Ancient Greek Pottery Bowl (No Reserve Price)

ITEM: Bowl
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Greek
PERIOD: 4th Century B.C
DIMENSIONS: 30 mm x 133 mm diameter
CONDITION: Good condition, repaired
PROVENANCE: Ex Dutch private collection, acquired between 1975 - 1990

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and European Union export license

If you bid outside European Union and win the item, we must request a new export license to your country and the shipment will delay between 3 - 5 weeks

Greek pottery is one of the most significant forms of artistic expression from ancient Greece, known for its beauty, craftsmanship, and the cultural insights it provides. Pottery in ancient Greece was not only functional but also highly decorative, often used for daily life, religious rituals, and burial offerings. Greek potters produced a wide range of vessels, including amphorae for storing wine and oil, kraters for mixing wine and water, kylixes for drinking, and lekythoi for storing oils and perfumes. The form and function of each piece varied depending on its intended use, but all were carefully crafted and often featured exquisite painted designs.

The two most famous decorative styles of Greek pottery are the black-figure and red-figure techniques. Black-figure pottery, which flourished between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE, involved painting figures in black slip on the natural red clay surface of the pot. Details were incised into the black figures, creating intricate and dynamic scenes. This style was eventually supplanted by red-figure pottery in the late 6th century BCE, where the background was painted black, and the figures were left in the red of the clay. Red-figure technique allowed for greater detail and more naturalistic depictions of human figures, making it popular among Athenian potters.

The decoration on Greek pottery provides valuable insights into ancient Greek life, mythology, and society. Scenes depicted on vases often include images of gods, heroes, and mythical creatures, as well as everyday activities like athletic competitions, banquets, and domestic life. These images serve as important historical records, offering a glimpse into the values, religious beliefs, and social practices of ancient Greeks. Because pottery was durable and widespread, it has survived in large quantities, giving modern scholars a wealth of material to study the development of Greek art, trade, and cultural exchange across the Mediterranean.