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The techniques of painted Attic pottery

1989; Association of College and Research Libraries; Volume: 26; Issue: 08 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5860/choice.26-4279

1943-5975

Alan Johnston, James Noble,

Ancient Egypt and Archaeology

PREFACEOVER FORTY YEARS have elapsed since the publication of the book ThenCraft of Athenian Pottery by Gisela M. A. Richter in 1923, and, although it has beennlong out of print, the book continues to be useful. Most of the content of the booknremains valid today, and I gratefully acknowledge the standards and guidance MissnRichter established. In particular, many of the references to ancient literature whichnI use are based on her comprehensive chapter on the subject. Before writing her book.nMiss Richter engaged in the actual practice of making pottery and experienced thendifficulties of throwing, turning, and firing vases. She felt that to fully understand thentechniques of the craft, it was necessary to master them; this is still an essentialnapproach.The techniques used to produce Attic pottery have long intrigued scholars, butnonly in the past two and a half decades has important progress been made in analyzingnand reproducing them. The turning point in the technical study was the reproductionnof the ancient black glaze in 1942 by Dr. Theodor Schumann.There remains ample material for further study in the techniques of Attic pottery.nFirst, in the field of the pottery techniques used to form the vases. Second, in the field of the accessory colors or colored clay slips. Third, in the technical analysis of the black glaze. Fourth, in the discovery of the means by which the Greek painters applied their black glaze and accessory colors to the vases, including the proper sequence of this process. Fifth, in the reproduction of the technique of making the celebrated Attic relief line, which, though studied, had never been successfully reproduced.This study is mainly concerned with the techniques of Attic pottery of the black- figured and the red-figured styles, the period from the late seventh to the late fourth century b.c. It is the era which constitutes the high point in the exercise of Attic ceramic skill and attainment. In addition, however, I have included some studies of other periods and cultures, from the Egyptian black and red ware of the third millennium b.c. to the Barbotine pottery of the Roman period as late as the fourth century A.D., wherever they have bearing on the techniques of Attic painted pottery. I have made no attempt to be comprehensive other than in the selected time, although in it a broad span of pottery techniques can be studied.n n n n