Chapter III: References to the Pottery Craft in Ancient Literature 87

Preparation of the Clay 87
Fashioning the Vases 89
(1) Wheelwork 89
(2) Building 93
Firing the Vases 94
Red Ochre Wash 96
Porosity of Greek Pottery 98
The Status of Potters 98

Conclusion 106

Selected Bibliography 109

Index 111

ILLUSTRATIONS

_Figure_ _Page_

1. Wedging (a) 3
2. Wedging (b) 4
3. Kick-wheel with treadle 5
4. Kick-wheel with disk 6
5. Wheel put in motion by assistant turning handle 6

_Processes of throwing_:
6. Centering ball 7
7. Pressing clay down 7
8. Squeezing clay into cone 7
9. Inserting thumb 7
10. Making cylinder 8
11. Making bowl 8
12. Making jar 8
13. Making bottle 8

14. Turning a vase 10
15. Turned foot 11
16. Foot left as thrown 12
17. Turning marks on outside of vase 13
18. Turning marks on inside of vase 13
19. Finishing marks left in handwork 14
20. Unturned inside of amphora 15
21. Vase thrown in sections 16
22. Sections in place 17
23. Vase after turning 17
24. Wet cellar 18
25. Detail of kylix showing joint 19
26. Detail of amphora showing difference between polished and
unpolished surfaces 20
27. Attachment of handles 21
28-33. Athenian vases showing treatment of handles 22, 23, 24
34. Detail of krater showing under part of handle left rough 25
35. Making coils 26
36. Vase poured in a mould 28
37. Inside of moulded vase 29
38. Vase showing joint of two parts of mould 30
39. Open kiln 31
40. Muffle kiln with biscuit ware 32
41. Open kiln showing saggers 33
42. Muffle kiln with glazed ware 34
43. Detail of amphora showing preliminary sketch 37
44. Design on red-figured krater.
(a) Preliminary sketch 38
(b) Completed painting 38
45. Detail of hydria showing dent with mark over black glaze 41
46. Detail of amphora showing dent with clay from other body
still adhering 42
47. Unfinished kylix 43
48. Foot of unfinished kylix 43
49. Black-glazed amphora with large red spot on one side 46

_Methods of Glazing_:
50. Dipping 48
51. Pouring 49
52. Use of the brush 50
53. Spraying 51

54. Hydria showing brush marks 52
55. Detail of psykter showing relief line 53
56. Detail of amphora showing diluted black glaze line (on arm)
going over red ochre left in preliminary sketch line 57
57. Inside of krater showing extensive wear 63

_Representations of ancient potters fashioning vases_:
58. Athenian pottery establishment 64
59. Potter throwing 66
60. Potter throwing 66
61. Potter attaching handles 67
62. Potter incising lines (?) 68
63. Potter joining sections (?) 68
64. Boy finishing a vase 69
65. Potter building a vase 70

_Representations of ancient potters decorating vases_:
66. Athena and Victories crowning potters at work 71
67. Youth decorating kylix 72
68. Potter glazing kylix 73
69. Potter painting bands on a krater 73
70. Three youths, one painting a krater 74
71. Pottery establishment 75

_Representations of ancient potters firing_:
72. Potter stoking fire 76
73. Potter stoking fire 76
74-79. Potters regulating draught 77
80. Vases stacked in potter’s kiln 78

_Representations of ancient potters: miscellaneous scenes_:
81. Youth removing vase from oven with two sticks 79
82. Youth working on vases (?) 79
83. Master potter(?) 80
84. Woman potter(?) 81
85. Client in potter’s shop 82
86. Ship with cargo of pottery 82

_Potter’s Implements_:
87. Wheel-head 84
88. Tools found at Arezzo 85
89. Stilt 85