Athenian Vase Construction A Potter's Analysis

320 Pages·1999·183.389 MB·English

by  Toby Schreiber

Modern studies of ancient Greek vases have
most often focused on the iconography of the
painted images. Yet we know that in antiquity
the potting of the vases was held in at least as
much esteem as the painting, and sometimes
potters proudly signed their wares. This book
analyzes the construction methods used by
Attic potters in the forming of their vases.
Based on her study of Greek pottery
sherds and vases and on her profound
hands-on knowledge of pottery construction
techniques, including experiments with
the potting of Attic shapes, Toby Schreiber
describes how ancient Greek potters con­
structed their vases. Drawn in large part from
vases and fragments in the collection of the
Getty Museum, the many photographs that
accompany the text show how much even
seemingly insignificant sherds may reveal
about technique when studied by someone
knowledgeable about potting. The draw­
ings— all done by the author — demonstrate
step by step with admirable clarity how the
potter executed his craft.
The in-depth look at the techniques
of pottery-construction techniques presented
m this book is bound to increase modern
admiration for the abilities of ancient Greek
potters.
Written by a master potter, this is a book
both for those who know little or nothing about
potting techniques and for those who already
have an understanding of these matters.

Athenian Vase Construction

Athenian Vase Construction
A P o t t e r 's A n a l y s is
Toby Schreiber
The J. Paul Getty Museum Malibu, California
Christopher Hudson, Publisher
Mark Greenberg, Managing Editor
Bénédicte Gilman, Editor
Elizabeth Chapin Kahn, Production Coordinator
Vickie Sawyer Karten, Designer
Ellen Rosenbery and Penelope Potter, Photographers,
photos provided by the Getty Museum
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 2112
Santa Monica, California 90407-2112
© 1999 The J. Paul Getty Museum
© 1999 Text and line drawings Barbara M. Schreiber
All rights reserved. Published 1999
Library of Congress
Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Schreiber, Toby, 1925 -
Athenian vase construction : a potter's analysis / Toby Schreiber.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-89236-465-3 (cloth). — ISBN 0-89236-466-1 (paper)
i. Vases, Greek. 2. Pottery—Technique. I. J. Paul Getty Museum, n. Title.
NK4645.S365 1998
738.3,82,0938—dc21 9746154
CIP
Unless otherwise noted, all photographs for the figures were taken by the author and are
reproduced by permission of the owners. Photographs for the plates were all provided by
the institutions that own the objects and are reproduced by permission of the owners.
Typography by G&.S Typesetting, Inc.
Printed by Science Press, Div. of the Mack Printing Group
C o n t e n ts
ix Foreword
xi Preface
xv Acknowledgments
Part 1 : The Basics Part 2 : The Vases
l Introduction £7 Introduction
2 STEPS IN PRODUCING 6g 7. Alabastron
A DECORATED ATHENIAN VASE 6g ROUND-BOTTOMED ALABASTRON
3 1. Clay : Origin, Composition, Properties, 70 FOOTED ALABASTRON
Purification 75 8. Amphora
g 2. Forming and Techniques 75 NECK-AMPHORA
g WEDGING 82 TYPES A, B, OR C AMPHORA
12 THE POTTER'S WHEEL 83 PANATHENAIC AMPHORA
13 TOOLS 8g 9. Aryballos
10 THROWING 8g WHEEL-MADE ARYBALLOS
21 TURNING go MOLDMADE ARYBALLOS
23 APPENDAGES g3 10. Askos
26 LEATHER-HARD g3 WHEEL-MADE ASKOS
28 SLIP g4 MOLDMADE ASKOS
2g MOLDMADE POTTERY gg 11. Dinos
31 3- A Modern Greek Family-run 107 12. Exaleiptron (Kothon)
Pottery Shop ill 13. Fish Plate
3g 4. Surface Treatment 111 ATTIC FISH PLATE
3g RIB SMOOTHING 11^ SOUTH ITALIAN FISH PLATE
3g BURNISHING 117 14. Hydria
48 MILTOS 120 KALPIS (CONTINUOUS-CURVE HYDRIA)
52 STROKING 125 15. Kantharos
53 5- Greek Gloss and Firing 127 CUP-KANTHAROS
57 6. Flaws and Defects I2g 16. Krater
57 AIR POCKETS 12g COLUMN-KRATER
Sg CRACKS 135 VOLUTE-KRATER
02 SPALLS 138 CALYX-KRATER
64 DENTS 14O BELL-KRATER
66 MISCELLANEOUS
N|
Part 2 : The Vases (continued) 230 TYPE B PYXIS
231 POWDER-BOX PYXIS
145 17. Kyathos 232 TYPE D PYXIS
149 18. Kylix 234 NIKOSTHENIC PYXIS
165 19. Lebes Gamikos 237 28. Rhyton
165 LOW-FOOTED LEBES GAMIKOS 243 29. Skyphos
l68 LEBES GAMIKOS ON STAND 244 CUP-SKYPHOS
171 20. Lekythos 247 30. Stamnos
178 SQUAT LEKYTHOS 253 Appendixes
178 LEKYTHOS WITH INNER OIL CUP 254 1. SILHOUETTES OF VASE SHAPES
l8^ HUGE LEKYTHOS 262 2. TERMINOLOGY
187 21. Loutrophoros 263 3. MOUTH TYPES
195 22. Mastos 264 4. FOOT TYPES
195 MASTOID CUP 2#5 5. HANDLE TYPES
197 23. Oinochoe 266 Abbreviations
197 OLPE (SHAPE 5) 267 Notes
203 CHOUS (SHAPE 3) 276 Glossary
204 OINOCHOAI WITH OFFSET NECK 279 Bibliography
(SHAPES i AND 2) 283 Plate Credits
207 BEAK-MOUTHED OINOCHOAI 285 Figure Credits
(SHAPES 6, 7, AND 10) 293 Index
209 24. Pelike
210 PELIKE IN SECTIONS
212 PELIKE IN ONE PIECE
215 25. Phiale
21$ PHIALE IN ONE PIECE
2l6 PHIALE IN SECTIONS
219 26. Psykter
221 PSYKTER-AMPHORA
225 27. Pyxis
225 TRIPOD PYXIS
226 TYPE A PYXIS
229 TYPE C PYXIS