19 - Greek Pottery Shapes Flashcards
Votive pinakes from Penteskouphia
7th cent. BCE. Workmen getting their clay. This subject was never on vases except for Penteskouphia, an open sanctuary near Corinth where there are many plaques with depictions of extraction of clay and the firing process. Likely that the sanctuary was used primarily by Corinth potters. There are also scenes of firing on pinakes, something never depicted on vases
Corinthian clay
High quality. Very bright yellow that feels soapy to fingers. Need extra care to be waterproof.
Attic clay
High quality. Turns into a brilliant red and creates almost automatically waterproof vases. Makes a metallic sound when made well.
Attic kylix showing potter at the wheel
540/30. Self-referential image of potter working at the potter’s wheel on vases. What you do not find on vases is firing scenes
The importance of firing
Extremely important and crucial…many mistakes could happen during the process so lots of superstition. Vent hole important because it allowed or prevented air circulation
Three-phase firing process for red figure technique
- Surface of vase is highly polished with leather, and slip is applied to the areas to be decorated. Temperature in stacking chamber is 800 Celsius and vent hole is open. Because of oxygen, iron in the clay and slip oxidizes and turns to red ferric oxide but in different levels because the purity of slip and clay different
- Temperature in the stacking chamber is 900 and venthole is closed. Because of the heat the fein iron particles in the slip sinter and create a shiny air and water proof surface. Vase becomes black.
- Venthole is opened again and the temperature is back at 800. Oxygen turns the iron in the clay back to red ferric oxide; since the iron in the slip sintered it stays black.
Process takes 15-24 hours.
Black figure firing process
Areas for the figures are left without slip; figures are made in silhouette. Before or after firing, lines are scratched into the figure. Decoration is scratching with a stylus, not painting.
Luxurious ware
Made of bronze, silver, and gold. Clay meant the product was not the best.
Krater
Something that could start a conversation during a symposium. Four kinds: volute, bell, column, and calyx. Used to mix wine with water.
Amphora
Storage and transportation. Name means “object with something on both sides”. In geometric, there are both vertical and horizontal handles. Three kinds: neck, belly, and panathenaic. Neck has sharp join between neck and body and belly does not. Panathenaic amphora for winners of the games. Always black figure. Portrayal of Athena on one side with two columns; on other side, representation of competition where winner won. Shapes change - narrower with top in 4th.
Hydria or calpis
Three handles - two horizontal and one vertical connecting lip to body. Usually used for transportation of water. Hydria with a sharp transition from neck to belly; calpis with smoother transition.
Oinochoe
One handle connecting lip to body. A wine jug.
Kylix, Kantharos, Skyphos
Cups for wine. Kantharos not the most popular. High body and vertical handles that are higher than lip of vase. Important for religion as a sign of Dionysus. Kylix - most popular. Flatter, more open. Handles always horizontal. Can go up to lip or even beyond, but not as high as kantharos. Skyphos more quotidian - high body of kantharos and horizontal handles (don’t curve up like kylix)
Vessels for perfumed oil
Aryballos - small to hold oil.
Lekythos - one handle, thin neck
Alabastron - round so needs separate base
Pyxis - cannot define shape. Small with lid for cosmetics, creams, jewelry.
Loutrophoros
Amphora with a high and slender neck, broad lip. To bear the bridal bath before the wedding ceremony. Found in graves, especially for people who didn’t get married.
