- Go to the section called Browse the Collection. In your first post please tell us about the Greek pot you found most interesting. Include the name and function of the pot, the date it was made, the location of origin, name of potter or painter if known. Lastly, describe the content of the painting.
- Go to the section called What is the Life of a Vase. Watch a video or explore other features of this section to learn an interesting factoid. Share that information with us in your first post. (2 sentence minimum.)
- Respond to a classmate's factiod on a second post at some time before the deadline.
If you have trouble posting you must email me the content of your post in order to get credit.
http://blantonmuseum.org/interact/greekvases/
The vase I found most interesting was the Black-Figure Kylix. It was made in 520-510 BCE and it was a wine cup. I found this the most interesting because of it's irregular shape. Another fact I learned was that there are metal vases as well as ceramic vases and the ceramic ones are more expensive than the metal vases.
ReplyDeleteI found the Red-Figure Hydria/Kalpis the most interesting. It was made in 340-320 BCE and used as a water jug.
ReplyDeleteI learned that in Ancient Greece the manufacturing of a vase began with finding a suitable source of clay, digging it from the ground, and removing the impurities from it. Water was then added to the clay to make it malleable. The consistency of the unfired clay is crucial for the sucess of the end product.If clay contains air bubbles and is fired in a kiln, the bubbles expand causing the vase to explode and cause damage.
A vase that interested me was the Middle Corinthian Stemless Kylix. It is a wine cup from 590 B.C.E. The cup depicts many animals. Two sphinxes are also present.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting factoid that I came across was that most Greek vase makers did not sign their work. In order to determine the artist, archeologists must look at small details like the eyes and ears.
Kaymi, why do you think that it was important for the clay to be malleable?
ReplyDeleteThe pot I found most interesting was the Red Figure Fish Plate. It was made in 340-320 BCE and was used for holding fish. This terracotta plate is attributed to the workshop of the Darius painter and is from the Greek-South Italian area. Many different sea creatures and shells are depicted on the work.
ReplyDeleteI also found out that the Greeks used symposium vases that had either one or two handles to hold wine at parties that were attended only by free men. This wine was however diluted with either water or snow because drinking undiluted wine was barbaric.
Johannez, I find it so interesting that sphinxes are depicted in the Greek culture and the Egyptian culture, it seems like certain made up animals were liked more than others!
ReplyDeleteThe vase I found most interesting was the Black-Figure Oinochoe. It was used as a wine pitcher and is thought to date back to 550-500BCE. It was found in a Greek Attic, it's made of terracotta, and it depicts someone riding a lion with some other animal (which I am having trouble identifying).
ReplyDeleteA fun fact that I learned was that there is evidence that Greek woman as well as men were thought to have been the painters on vases and pottery, but only the men recieve credit. Slaves were thought to have also been potters and painters.
Katie, I also liked the Red Figure Fish Plate, I found that it was the most original out of the other pottery because it was the only one that didn't depict people.
ReplyDeleteThe piece I found most interesting was the Red-Figure Askos, which was used as a flask. It was made in 425-400 BCE, and was likely found at Attica, an area that included Athens. The flask is oddly shaped and depicts a single animal, possibly a deer or animal of that family.
ReplyDeleteThe interesting factoid I learned was that if there are air bubbles present in the clay when the pot is fired in the kiln, it will explode.
Catherine, isn't is strange that the ceramic pots were more expensive than the metal ones? You would think that the metal pots would be more valuable because clay is so common place and metal was harder to come by.
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ReplyDeleteFrom Ariel (Directed at Johannez)
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting that Greek vase makers did not sign there work. Is there a reason why?
Frim Ariel:
ReplyDeleteThe pot that interested me the most was the Red- Figure Fish Plate. The purpose isn't specified in the information but I assume it was used for holding food and more specifically fish. The pot is from Apulia, a region in Southeastern Italy and bordering the Adriatic Sea. The pot was painted by the Darius painter. The pot depicts different kinds of fish and sea creatures on it. An interesting fact is that clay vases were used to imitate metal vases and their characteristics since clay was less expensive.
The vase I chose was a red-figure squat Lekoythos. It was used as an oil container. It is made out of terracotta and created around 425-390BCE.
ReplyDelete-stephanie M.
A fact that I learned about vases was: Vases were often found in te graves of people. While some believe the vases stand for something in the desceaseds' life, many of the vases appear to have been used for along time before being buried with the desceased.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, do you know if there is a significance of the irregular shape of the vase?
ReplyDeleteI found the most interesting vase to be the Polychrome Oinochoe. It was a marriage vessel and a wine pitcher. It was made around 300-289 BC and originated in southern Italy. The artist is unknown. What makes this vase particurally interesting to me is the content. This vase depicts a woman (?) in ordimental dress, surrounded by feathers. Rather than being painted on the vase, this 3 dimensional figure is attached at the top.
ReplyDeleteThe creation of a vase is a very delicate process. Just one error, like an air bubble, will ruin the piece and possibly others.
Responding to Stephanie's comment:
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that so many cultures feel obligated to bury people with belongings used in life. I think we can most easily relate this Greek custom to the elaborate burials of Ancient Egypt. We know that Greece and Egypt were in close contact with each other, and it's likely that this common ritual was evidence of communication.
The vase that interested me was the Red-Figure Lekythos. It was used as an oil container and was made around 470 BCE. The place of origin is Greek-attic.
ReplyDeleteThe proces of throwing has been going for about 2,000 to 3,000 years. I also learned that most forms were made into cylinders and then adjusted to the height the potter wanted.
The vase that I found to be the most interesting was the "Red-Figure Column-Krater", created around around 470 BCE in Greece. It was made of terracota and was used as a wine mixing vessel. It is a red-figure vase with two men and horses with simplistic design and colour.
ReplyDeleteThe interesting factoid that I learned was that most of the time the artist and the potter were differnt people who worked together on the same vessel.
Haha I spelled "different" wrong.
ReplyDeleteI also learned that both men and women painted vases.
Bianka:
Could you imagine a triangular vase with handles? It would look pretty interesting if you ask me.
The vase I found most interesting was the Pelike, which was used as a jar. It is South Italian (Gnathia) and was made in 360-300 BCE. The vase depicts a winged man pursuing an animal that appears to be a deer. The background is black and the figure is white.
ReplyDeleteAvanti and Katie - both of your facts were intersting in that they emphasize the insignificance of women and slaves in early Greek society (because such individuals were not allowed to attend parties or receive credit for their artistic endeavors). I wish woman had signed their work - it would be interesting to study women potters and painters!
ReplyDeleteThe pot I found most interesting was the Late Corinthian Round Aryballos pot. It is made of terracotta in 550 before the Common Era. The artist is unknown. Looking at the painting, I don’t think a scene was trying to be portrayed; more like a design painted in glossy looking orange over light brown terracotta.
ReplyDeleteUpon watching the video, I learned that when making large pots, potters don’t start with a huge hunk of clay, they start with a small mound and create a base and then open the form of it, creating the bottom part, and then add more. The potter in the video was so awesome, I wish that I could create a vase like that!
In response to heather's fact on the video; i think that making pottery must have been relatively stressful for the people of this time because the vases were so important and i would imagine that if a mistake was made, the artist would be punished.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting fact I learned is that vases were often awarded for victory in competitions. Such competitions ranged from athletic events to music and poetry contests. Subjects of these victory vases included Athena – the goddess of wisdom, and athletes or competitors. Some vases may even depict both pictures, but on opposite sides of the vase.
ReplyDeleteI most appreciated the Red-Figure Lekythos that is attributed to the Olonokles Painter. It is from around 470 B.C.E. and is made of terracotta. It was once used as an oil container. The lekythos has geometric designs around the top and bottom that surround a woman with wings that seems to have some sort of food item in her hands. Her face is looking back and reveals only her profile.
ReplyDeleteMuseum acquisitions have changed from being trips to excavate pieces to making educated purchases from art dealers, so as not to undermine the intended setting of the pieces.
A comment on what "sparklenshine" said:
ReplyDeleteIt would be hard to imagine many modern day artists collaborating on art work. Art is often viewed as a solo act today.
The Greek pot that interested me the most was the Polychrome Oinochoe. This pot functioned as a wine mixer and was made around 300 BCE in Southern Italy. This pot is very intricate and depicts a lady figure at the top and geometric patterns on the main portion of the pot. In addition, I learned that special vases were given as prizes to athletes at the Panathenaic games at Athens and were often filled with olive oil.
ReplyDeleteHeather, what sort of techniques do you think the Greeks developed in order to prevent these errors?
ReplyDeleteI really liked the Red-Figure Askos flask. It was made sometime between 425-400 BCE and is made from terracotta. It did what most flasks do, and held water for drinking. The flask has a deer painted on the top, seeming to leap forward.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting fact I learned was that vases were given out as prizes for events ranging from athletics to poetry competitions. These vases could be filled with olive oil, wine, perfume or olives.
Paige - I went and checked that video out after reading your comment. He was really good! I wonder what kind of training he had to go through to learn that.
I found the removing of impurities (from the materials) the most interesting, must like a ritual.
ReplyDeleteLike Chelsea said and nice that she pointed out that the vases were given aware as awards or prizes much like trophies.
I also wonder how someone today would react to a vase given to them in place of a trophy...
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