Greek - Ancient Pottery for Sale

Although some ancient Greek pottery was intended for decoration or for presentation, the majority was made for everyday use, mainly in the preparation and serving of food and drink, or for the bath, and can be divided in four broad categories - storage and transport vessels, mixing vessels, jugs and cups and vases for oils, perfumes and cosmetics. Most surviving Greek pottery consists of drinking vessels such as amphorae, kraters (bowls for mixing wine and water), hydria (water jars), libation bowls, jugs and cups. Miniatures were also produced in large numbers, mainly for use as offerings at temples.

Superb Greek Apulian Kylix Although admittedly I do not recognize the subject of this incredible vessel, I am still able to marvel at its beauty! Large ancient Greek pottery kylix, from Apulia, $2,495.00

Greek Apulian Lidded Lekanis Very rare size, almost a miniature! Ancient Greek Lekanis, ca. 350 B.C., from the ancient Greek colony of Apulia in southern Italy. Terracotta lidded pottery vessel with... $625.00

Greek Pottery Figure of Eros Ancient Greco-Roman Figure, ca. 3rd-2nd century B.C. Hollow terracotta pottery figure of a Eros, Greek god of love. He is shown nude save a cloak worn over his... $795.00 $675.75

Corinthian Oinochoe w/ Animal Frieze From ancient Greece, Corinth, ca. 575-550 B.C. Large Corinthian oinochoe (wine jug) with high swung handle attached to a trefoil mouth. The decor on body, on two... $4,995.00 $4,245.75 SOLD

Greek Tarentine Trefoil Pitcher Ancient Greek Crème Slip Pitcher from Tarentum (a Greek colony, part of Magna Graecia), ca. 420 B.C. Left unpainted, this terracotta pouring vessel has a trefoil... $795.00 $675.75

The painted decoration of ancient Greek pottery has become the primary source of information about the development of Greek pictorial art. Made in a variety of sizes and shapes, according to its intended use - large vessels were used for storage and transportation of liquids (wine, olive oil, water), while smaller pots were used for perfumes and unguents. The earliest style, known as the Geometric style (ca. 1000 – 700 B.C.), features geometric patterns and, eventually, narrative scenes with stylized figures. From the late 8th to the early 7th century, a growing Eastern influence resulted in the “Orientalizing” of motifs (e.g., sphinx, griffin), notably in pieces made in Corinth (ca. 700 B.C.), where painters developed black-figure vases. Athenians adopted both the black-figure and red-figure style, and became the dominant manufacturers of Greek pottery. By the 4th century the figured decoration of pottery had declined, and by the end of the century it had died out in Athens.