Ceramics In Greece

The design and painting of ceramics was a major art in classical Greece. Native clay was shaped easily on the wheel, and each had a name and a specific function in the Greek community and ceremonial.

The amphora was a tall, two-handled storage vessel for wine, grain, oil, or honey; the hydria, a three-handled water jug, the lecythus, an oil flask with a long narrow neck, for funeral offering cylix, a double-handled drinking cup on a base, the Oenochoe, a wine jug with a pinched lip, Crater, a large bowl for mixing wine and water. Undecorated black pottery was used throughout Greek and Hellenistic times; forms are related either to the decorated ceramic or metal. Both styles influenced Roman ceramics.

Even in the Bronze Age, the Greeks took advantage of oxidizing and reducing kilns to produce a shiny black slip on a cream, brown or orange-buff body in the shadows, depending on the clay. At first, decorative designs were abstract. Of Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BC), however, stylized forms from nature appear. Of Late Bronze Age, and marine plants, and fanciful animals were painted on pots well-orchestrated form of Mycenaean's initially influenced by Cretan potters. Athenian geometric style replaced the Mycenaean around 1000 BC, and fell to the 6th century BC. Large craters in the Geometric style, with bands of ornament, warriors, and Processional figures laid out in horizontal registers, were found at Dipylon cemetery in Athens, they come from around 750 BC.

Attic Potters introduced black-figure ware in the beginning of the 6th century. Painted black forms adorned the polished red clay ground, with detail rendered by incising through the black. White and reddish-purple were added for skin and clothing. Depictions of processions and vehicles continue to animals and hybrid animals were also shown (especially in orientalizing period, around 700 to 500 BC), at times surrounded by geometric and plant motifs. Such decoration was always well integrated with the vessel shapes, and the iconography of Greek mythology is ready. Beginning in the 6th century, stressed the decoration of the human figure far more than animals. Favorite themes included humans and gods at work, struggle, and knocked, musicians, weddings and other ceremonies, and women are at play or dressing. In some cases, events or heroes states. Mythological and literary scenes became more frequent. Potters' and painters names and styles have been identified, even when they do not sign their works.

Red-figure pottery was invented around 530 BC, becoming especially popular between 510 and 430 background was painted black and the figures were left in reserve in the maroon clay surface examination of the figures were painted black, which allowed the artist greater freedom in design. Paint can also be diluted for modulating color.

Secondary colors of red and white were used less, gold is sometimes added for detailed information on metal and jewelry. Anatomy was rendered more realistically, and after 480, so were nuances of gesture and expression. While Athens and Corinth were centers for red-figure pottery, the style also spread to the Greek islands. Of the 4th century BC, but declined in quality. Another Greek style featured outline drawing on a white background, with added colors imitating monumental painting; these vessels, however, were impractical for domestic use.