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.

Miniature South Italic Lekythos Ancient Greek Lekythos from southern Italy, Apulian region, ca. 4th century B.C. In miniature form, typical oil pouring vessel with a squat, bulbous body, tapered... $695.00

Miniature Cypriot Target Jug Miniature grayware vessel from ancient Cyprus, ca. 8th to 6th century BC. Bulbous-base jug painted with series of four concentric rings around base and circular "targets"... $395.00

Greek Apulian Blackware Skyphos Simple & graceful! Ancient Greek Skyphos, from South Italy, Apulian region, ca. 4th century B.C. Large, black-glazed pottery vessel with a contoured shape. $795.00

Apulian Xenon Ware Oinochoe - Swans From ancient Greece, Apulian region, Xenon style, ca. 350 B.C. Classic blackware wire pouring vessel with pinkish-red pigment applied after firing. Decoration features... $1,195.00

Campanian Calene Ware Guttos Ex-Royal Athena Gallery... Ancient Greek Calene Ware Guttos, ca. 4th century B.C. With high splayed foot, ribbed shoulder, long spout with rim, and convex ring... $1,195.00

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.