Greek Pottery

the Pottery of Ancient Greece

Greek Pottery
Greek legends and mythology tell us clay held an important place in early Greek life
Greeks believe the goddess Athena was the inventor of many useful articles, including earthenware pots
Athena became the patroness of Greek potters
Early Greeks recognized clay’s special qualities

Goddess Athena
Archaeological site in Athens, the Parthenon, was a shrine to the Goddess Athena, built between 472 and 433 BC
Legend says Athena was born from Zeus’ head and therefore has no mother
Athena's Strengths: rational, intelligent, powerful defender in war but also a potent peacemaker
Athena's Symbol or Attribute: The Owl, signifying watchfulness and wisdom

Form and Function
Now you should explore The British Museum site on Ancient Greek Life and complete Worksheet #1: Form and Function. (See steps #1-4)
This exercise will begin to help you understand how the pictures on their pottery tell us something about the lives of the Greek people.
The British Museum- Ancient Greece
http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/

Geometric Designs
In addition to the stories told on Greek pots, the ancient Greeks used many geometric designs.
Now visit the Greek Key site below and complete Worksheet #2: What’s Your Pattern? (See steps #5-6)
http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/greekkey/index.htm

Pottery of Ancient GreeceSome Examples

Vase used for storing and transporting
Amphora
The amphora was a two-handled vase used for storage and transport.

Amphora

Vase used for storing and transporting
Stamnos
Stamnos is probably another name for a large amphora.

stamnos

Vase used for mixing and cooling wine
Krater
The word Krater means "mixing-bowl" and the vase was used for mixing wine with water.

Krater

Vase used for mixing and cooling wine
Psykter
The word Psykter means "cooler," and it was used for cooling wine. The Psykter was placed in a Krater which had been filled with cooled water, and the cooling liquid would surround the Psykter and cool the wine.

psykter

Vase used for drinking or pouring
Kantharos
This type of drinking-cup is often seen held by Dionysus (Greek god of the grape harvest) in representations on vase.

Kantharos

Vase used for drinking or pouring
Oinochoe
This vase is a kind of ladle or small pitcher used for pouring wine from the Krater into a drinking-cup.

Oinochoe

Vase used for Drawing water
Hydria
The name of this three-handled vase is derived from the Greek word for water. The Hydria were used for drawing water. They are commonly seen in vase-representations of women drawing water at the fountain-house.

hydria

Vase used for carrying water
Loutrophoros
Name means "carrier of washing-water", and was used in ritual contexts: at weddings, to carry water for bridal bath; in funerals, to carry water for washing the corpse, and to mark graves. Vases of this shape are commonly decorated with scenes of mourners or wedding processions.

Loutrophoros

Vase used for Cosmetics
Lekythos
This vase was a flask used for toilet oils, perfume, or condiments, and also appears in funerary contexts, where it was used to pour libations for the dead or was left on the grave as an offering.

Lekythos

Vase used by Athletes
AlabastronThis vase was an elongated flask with a narrow neck used to contain oil. It was sometimes suspended from an athlete's wrist or from a peg on the wall.

Alabastron

Geometric Style Pottery Design
Angular patterns, rows of dots, strokes, "fish-bones", zig-zags, crosses, stars, hooked crosses, triangles, are most common; alongside of them are circles and rosettes neatly made with the compass
The representation of figures also took a geometric approach. Figures were shown in stylized silhouettes setting the body in its simplest form.
Vases were generally divided into bands which were filled with geometric decorations and these basic figure forms.

Task
Create a vessel in the style of one of the Greek pots you researched. You will use the hand building technique of coil with red terracotta clay.
The vessel will be finished by adding the pattern you design using the sgraffito finishing technique.

Before You Make Your Vessel
You must create a template out of Bristol board and masking tape to ensure you pot remains the desired shape and is symmetrical.
You must first be sure your final pot drawing is complete and perfect…then you can make a template.

On a piece of 8.5” x 11” Drawing Paper
1. Draw full/actual size and symmetrically the outline or shape of your pot
2. Fold the drawing paper along the center of your pot
3. Trace ½ of your image by placing the left edge of a piece of 8.5” x 11” tracing paper along the fold
On a piece of 8.5” x 11” Bristol Board
4. Measure 1 ¼” up from the bottom and draw a line horizontally
5. Measure 3 ½” in from the right side and draw a vertical line from to the bottom of board
6. Place tracing paper graphite side down onto the Bristol with the bottom of your vessel on the horizontal line and trace the outline of your vessel
7. Cut away vessel shape and the 1 ¼” x 3 ½” rectangle leaving a tab on the bottom and the negative space around your vessel
8. Cover the shape carefully with Masking Tape
9. This is your template… write your name on this and keep it safe until your pot is complete!!!
Making Your Template

Sgraffito Techniques
Applying two or more layers of contrasting slip or underglaze to an unfired ceramic body, then scratching so as to produce an outline drawing.

Before Sgraffito– Practice Mug
PREPARATION AND PLANNING ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROCEED.
Plan out and draw your final design at FULL SIZE.
Decide where you are going to apply gray slip…apply it and let it dry until you can touch it gently with your finger and not leave a mark.
Decide what will be White and what will remain Red.
Transfer drawing to onto tracing paper then lightly press onto coil mug.
Using scratch tools, carve away the slip where you want red to remain.

Sgraffito Your Pot
Use the same process you did for your practice mug…
Decide where the white areas will be and apply white slip carefully to those areas.
Your pot should be slightly past leather hard, but NOT bone dry. *Remember your pot is in a highly fragile state…handle carefully.
Transfer your full size design from the tracing paper to the pot.
Carve away slip where you want red to remain
When complete, pot will be bisque fired
After bisque fire, a clear glaze can be applied for second firing.

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Greek Pottery

by Mrs. Shawn Duckworth on Sep 29, 2011

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Greek Pottery — Presentation Transcript