Greek - Pottery

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 Greek Xenon Kylix Ancient Greek pottery miniature Kylix from the Greek colony of Apulia, located in southeastern Italy. Ca. 325 B.C., of the style known as Xenon, characterized by added... $395.00

Xenon Miniature Trefoil Oinochoe A very desirable ancient Greek pottery miniature trefoil oinochoe from the Greek colony of Apulia, located in southeastern Italy. Ca. 325 B.C., of the style known as... $375.00

Greek Terracotta 'Plastic' Dolphin Vessel Rare form! Ancient Greek / South Italic Dolphin Vessel, from Sicily (just a bit earlier than Apulian), ca. 5th to 4th century B.C. Terracotta plastic vessel, so referred... $3,295.00

Greek Apulian Black-Glazed Olpe A cute, classic form! Ancient Blackware Jug /Olpe from the Greek colonies of Apulia located in southeastern Italy, ca. 4th century B.C. A miniature pottery vessel, $325.00

Apulian Gnathian Epichysis Ancient Greek Epichysis / Prochus, from Apulia, ca. 330-320 B.C. Used for pouring oil or wine, this black glaze pottery jug features a slender spout and elegant handle. $1,395.00

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.