Greek Pottery

Much of our understanding of Greek society comes from pottery because there is so much of it left!

Greek pottery may be divided in four broad categories:

storage and transport vessels, mixing vessels, jugs and cups and vases for oils, perfumes and cosmetics.

Amphora- a storage jar having an egg-shaped body, a foot and two handles, each attached at the neck and shoulders of the jar.

Hydria-A large jug used to carry water.

Early vases of the Archaic period were of red clay with black figures and decorations painted on them

These paintings portrayed a story or narrative (mythological or daily life)

Black figure decoration- painter used slip to silhouette figures against the red background

Red figure decoration- red figures stand out against a black background (figures are bare)

Exekias - The Suicide of Ajax – black figure decoration - Amphora - 540 BCE - 27”

Depicts a legend from the Trojan War. Ajax, a Greek warrior, was 2nd best to Achilles in bravery. However, armor to Odysseus. Ajax, humiliated commits suicide.

Women at a Fountain House –black figure decoration - Hydria – 21” – 520-510 BCE. Depicts Greek women

performing common chore: collecting water at communal well. 

Artemis Slaying Actaeon – Red figure decoration on bell krater – 470 BCE – 15”

Black Figure Vs Red Figure

Topics

Relating to Mythology Relating to traditions Relating to history Relating to Contemporary Customs

Greek Pottery Design

Draw a form of Greek pottery on Manila paper so it is symmetrical

Divide it into 3 sections (middle is biggest)

In the middle create a situation between at least 2 people

Create designs in the other 2 sections

Color it with black making it either red figure or black figure pottery

Extra 10pts for researching and doing a design from Greek Mythology

Name_______________ Pts.

Size Requirement /20

Shape /20

Outside Decoration /20

Craftsmanship /20

Total points /100

Greek CeramicVessels

ObjectivesStudents should…

• Create a ceramic vessel at least 8 inches tall • use the coil method

• Base their pot on one from Greek History

Remember to tightly cover your work each day after class or it will dry out!

Clay-particles of decomposed rock combined with water to create a plastic, malleable body which is then fired in a kiln to fuse the particles back into a stone-like state.

Coil- a hand method of forming pottery by building up the walls with ropelike rolls of clay and then smoothing over the joints

Slip-A thick and creamy mixture of clay and water used to join clay parts together or to decorate the surface. It is applied before firing, when the clay is still wet.

Score- Roughing up the surface of clay where two pieces will be attached.

Wedging-Method of kneading clay to make it homogenous; ridding the clay of all air pockets.

Kiln - a furnace made of refractory clay materials for firing ceramic productsGlaze- A glassy coating that has been melted onto a ceramic surface. Sgraffito- decoration scratched or inscribed into the layers of the surface of clay while still soft.

Clay tools- Needle tool , loop tools, sponge, wire cutter, rib (wooden and metal), blenging tool.

Stages of Clay1. Slip--watered down clay in a muddy form 2. Plastic--workable stage; molding stage; can recycle; can join to other pieces 3. Leather-hard--stiff and will hold its shape; join to other pieces; carve into; recycle 4. Greenware--bone dry; can be carved into; very fragile; can recycle 5. Bisqueware--fired once in kiln; can not be recycled; glazing stage 6. Earthenware (Glazeware)--second fire-low fire; can not be recycled