,,the ,,metropolitan ,,museum ,,of ,,art ,,shapes ,,of ,,greek ,,vases ,illustration ,,new ,,york #aibb ,,copyright1 #aibb1 ,,by ,,the ,,metropolitan ,,museum ,,of ,,art ,,shapes ,,of ,,greek ,,vases ,the appreciation of beautiful form1 with the ability to create it1 which was characteristic of the ,greek people1 is nowhere better illustrated than in the shapes of their pottery4 ,these vases--the jars1 dishes1 and cups made for household and religious use--were designed with intelligent skill to serve their purpose in the most effective fashion1 and are valued for their fine shapes no less than for their interesting and beautiful decoration4 ,the following reproductions of the most important shapes in use among ,athenian potters during the sixth and fifth centuries ,b4 ,c4 will show with what care the relation of the height to the width and the proportion of the parts to the whole were designed with a view to harmonious effect1 and how skilfully the forms of the neck1 the mouth1 and the foot1 and the position of the handles were planned for practical use4 ,the vases have been selected where possible from the collection in this ,museum2 but when a certain shape was not represented here or conspicuously better examples were available elsewhere1 vases in other collections have been included4 ,unless otherwise stated the vases here illustrated are in this ,museum4 ,,amphora4 ,two-handled jar for holding provisions4 ,illustration3 ,black-figured type with heavy lip and cylindrical handles4 ,the decoration is usually painted in panels1 back and front1 the rest of the body being black4 ,illustration3 ,panathenaic amphora given as a prize in the games at ,athens4 ,illustration3 ,black-figured type with curving lip and ribbed handles4 ,the decoration extends over the surface of the vase4 ,illustration3 ,black-figured amphora of the same general type as the preceding1 but broader and heavier4 ,illustration3 ,amphora with short neck and long body4 ,the form of the handles is copied from metal technique4 ,illustration3 ,amphora with high1 finely curving handles and black figures on a white body4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,illustration3 ,black-figured amphora2 slender neck and egg-shaped body4 ,a rather unusual form4 ,owned by ,albert ,gallatin4 ,illustration3 ,nolan amphora with elongated neck and egg-shaped body4 ,form characteristic of the red-figured technique of the early fifth century4 ,illustration3 ,red-figured amphora with twisted handles1 of the first half of the fifth century4 ,there is a decided advance toward slenderness and grace4 ,illustration3 ,amphora with narrow neck and pointed body4 ,illustration3 ,red-figured amphora with twisted handles1 of the second half of the fifth century4 ,illustration3 ,marriage-lebes with stand1 used to hold water for the nuptial bath4 ,,stamnos4 ,a development of the amphora4 ,illustration3 ,stamnos4 ,type characteristic of the early fifth century1 with rounded body and short neck4 ,illustration3 ,stamnos4 ,type prevalent in middle and later fifth century1 with more elongated body1 smaller foot1 and higher neck4 ,,loutrophoros4 ,water-jar for the bride's ceremonial bath4 ,illustration3 ,earlier type with heavy mouth and foot1 and handles joined midway to the neck4 ,in the ,louvre1 ,paris4 ,illustration3 ,later type of slenderer proportions1 finely curved mouth1 foot1 and handles4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,,krater4 ,vessel for mixing water and wine4 ,it was from the krater that the wine was ladled into the cups4 ,illustration3 ,krater with volute handles decorated in the black-figured technique4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,illustration3 ,column krater1 so called from the columnar shape of the handles4 ,illustration3 ,krater with volute handles in the red-figured technique4 ,illustration3 ,bell krater1 shaped like an inverted bell4 ,this type and the following are characteristic of the red-figured style4 ,both have handles adapted for carrying the vessel when full4 ,illustration3 ,kalyx krater4 ,illustration3 ,psykter1 vessel for cooling wine4 ,it was placed in another receptacle filled with snow or cold water4 ,in the ,british ,museum4 ,illustration3 ,deinos or lebes1 vessel for wine or other liquids1 set on a stand4 ,the whole makes a harmonious composition4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,,hydria4 ,water-jar having three handles4 ,the handle at the back was used for pouring or for carrying the vessel2 the handles at the sides1 for lifting4 ,illustration3 ,hydria of the black-figured type having the handle at the back much larger than those at the sides1 and the neck at a sharp angle with the body4 ,illustration3 ,hydria with rounded body4 ,the handles and mouldings suggest imitation of metal technique4 ,illustration3 ,hydria with more strongly curving shoulder and conical foot4 ,illustration3 ,black-figured hydria with continuous curve for neck and body1 broad foot1 and handles placed rather low4 ,illustration3 ,black-figured hydria with neck distinctly marked and shoulder and body forming a continuous curve4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,illustration3 ,hydria of red-figured type showing the acme of development of this shape4 ,illustration3 ,hydria of the second half of the fifth century1 slightly slenderer than the preceding1 with finely curving foot4 ,illustration3 ,hydria of the late red-figured type with egg-shaped body1 broad lip1 and side handles curving upward4 ,note the deterioration in the curve of the foot4 ,,oinocho4 ,wine-jug4 ,illustration3 ,oinocho with round mouth and high handle1 having the neck distinct from the body4 ,illustration3 ,oinocho with trefoil lip1 short handle1 and continuous curve for neck and body4 ,illustration3 ,oinocho with round mouth and high handle4 ,the neck and body form a continuous curve4 ,illustration3 8,olpe10 oinocho with round mouth and continuous curve for neck and body4 ,illustration3 ,oinocho with high handle1 trefoil lip1 and egg-shaped body1 a particularly graceful form4 ,in a private collection1 ,new ,york4 ,illustration3 8,olpe10 oinocho with round mouth and low foot4 ,illustration3 ,oinocho with central lobe of trefoil mouth accentuated1 and no foot4 ,illustration3 ,oinocho of the second half of the fifth century2 squat body1 delicately curved trefoil lip4 ,illustration3 ,oinocho with sharp division between shoulder and body4 ,illustration3 ,oinocho with finely shaped mouth and broad body4 ,illustration3 ,oinocho with beaked spout and disk at the side1 a variation of the usual trefoil mouth4 ,,drinking ,,cups--,,kylix4 ,the kylix with two handles and high foot was the favorite cup shape of the ,athenian potters4 ,the difficulty of decorating the strongly curving surface of the body invited the best efforts of contemporary vase painters4 ,illustration3 ,kylix of 8,ionic0 form with short foot of rectangular profile connected with the body by a moulding4 ,illustration3 ,black-figured kylix with low foot4 ,the deep bowl has no separate lip4 ,illustration3 ,black-figured kylix with deep bowl1 offset lip1 and low foot4 ,illustration3 ,black-figured kylix with offset lip and high foot4 ,illustration3 ,black-figured kylix with graceful bowl and heavy foot4 ,illustration3 ,kylix of form intermediate between the black-figured and red-figured types4 ,illustration3 ,kylix of red-figured type with flat bowl1 slender high foot1 and horizontal handles curving upward at the ends4 ,the proportion of the bowl1 foot1 and handle to one another is more harmonious than in the preceding example4 ,illustration3 ,kylix in use during the best period1 showing the highest development of this shape4 ,the beauty of the unbroken curve between the edge of the lip and the bottom of the foot is the result of a century of continued study4 ,illustration3 ,kylix with 8wishbone0 handles1 a very graceful1 slender form in use in the later fifth century4 ,in the ,british ,museum4 ,illustration3 ,red-figured kylix with deep bowl1 offset lip1 and flat foot4 ,a shape intermediate between the kylix and the skyphos4 ,illustration3 ,lekane1 covered dish of uncertain use4 ,it often appears in vase paintings of toilet scenes4 ,,drinking ,,cups--,,kantharos4 ,illustration3 ,kantharos of black-figured type with offset lip and high curving handles4 ,illustration3 ,kantharos with high foot1 tall handles1 and both bowl and lip forming a continuous curve4 ,perhaps one of the most beautiful shapes designed by the ,athenian potters4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,,drinking ,,cups--,,skyphos4 ,illustration3 8,skyphos10 a deep drinking cup with a flat foot and strongly curving handle4 ,illustration3 8,skyphos0 or 8,kotyle10 a deep drinking cup with flat foot and small horizontal handles4 ,,drinking ,,cups--,,other ,,forms4 ,illustration3 ,kyathos1 ladle used for dipping wine from the krater into the drinking cups4 ,illustration3 ,small cup with offset lip1 two handles1 and no foot4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,illustration3 ,small cup without handles4 ,illustration3 ,one-handled cup with offset lip and no foot4 ,illustration3 ,phiale1 shallow bowl with a central boss4 ,this shape was used especially for libations4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,illustration3 ,mastos1 so called because the shape resembles a woman's breast4 ,in the ,british ,museum4 ,illustration3 ,cup with two handles1 one horizontal and the other vertical4 ,illustration3 ,pinax1 a flat plate4 ,note how well the decoration is adapted to the space4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,,moulded ,,vases4 ,the bodies of these vases were made in moulds in the form of human and animal heads while the mouths were shaped on the wheel4 ,such moulds1 however1 were not used for producing hundreds of identical vases1 as nowadays4 ,illustration3 ,aryballos in the shape of a negro's head4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,illustration3 ,cup in the form of two female heads1 back to back4 ,illustration3 ,cup in the form of a ,seilenos head4 ,owned by ,albert ,gallatin1 ,new ,york4 ,illustration3 ,cup without handles in the form of a woman's head4 ,illustration3 ,cup in the form of a cow's head4 ,illustration3 ,cup in the form of a horse's head4 ,illustration3 ,cup in the form of a ram's head4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,illustration3 ,cup in the form of a mule's head4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,,lekythos4 ,oil-jug4 ,the narrow neck and deep mouth were designed to make the liquid flow out slowly4 ,illustration3 ,early black-figured example with egg-shaped body and no distinct shoulder4 ,illustration3 ,later black-figured type with high neck and shoulder distinct from the body4 ,illustration3 ,black-figured lekythos with broad shoulder distinct from the body4 ,illustration3 ,early red-figured type of squat shape with large flat foot4 ,illustration3 ,lekythos of the finest type with slender body and high neck and handle4 ,illustration3 ,lekythos of the later fifth century1 of exaggerated slenderness4 ,illustration3 ,squat lekythos with broad flat foot1 a shape popular among the later ,athenian potters4 ,,toilet ,,jars4 ,illustration3 ,alabastron1 for holding oil or perfumes4 ,illustration3 ,aryballos1 oil-jug4 ,vases of this shape are often seen suspended from the wrists of athletes4 ,illustration3 ,vase 7the ancient plemocho871 probably used for holding perfumes1 a shape intermediate between the pyxis and the lekane4 ,note the delicately executed knob serving as handle to the lid4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,,toilet ,,jars--,,pyxis4 ,small terracotta box for holding toilet articles4 ,it regularly has a cover provided with a knob or a bronze ring for handle4 ,illustration3 ,black-figured pyxis with a loop handle on the cover4 ,illustration3 ,white pyxis of conspicuously beautiful design and execution1 decorated with figures in color on a white ground4 ,in the foot are three notches for easier handling4 ,illustration3 ,white pyxis of design similar to the preceding1 but with elongated instead of arched knob4 ,it also is an exceptionally fine product of the potter's art4 ,in the ,museum of ,fine ,arts1 ,boston4 ,illustration3 ,red-figured pyxis with high foot and knob-shaped handle4 ,illustration3 ,red-figured pyxis with cylindrical body and low1 broad foot4 ,illustration3 ,red-figured pyxis of the late fifth century with low1 broad body and a bronze ring on the cover4 ,illustration3 ,red-figured pyxis of cylindrical shape and no handle on the lid4 ,illustration3 ,red-figured pyxis of late date with the knob in the form of a knucklebone4 ,illustration3 ,small pyxis of attractive design delicately worked4 ,illustration3 ,small cylindrical pyxis without handle4 ,,illustrations ,,from ,,attic ,,vases4 ,the theory has often been advanced that the painted black-figured and red-figured vases were made for decoration and for votive and funeral purposes but not for actual use4 ,the following illustrations from ,attic vases show some of the best-known types in use in the daily life of the ,greeks1 and thus furnish us with contemporary evidence that the vases were made to serve the purposes for which they are so well adapted4 ,illustration3 ,scene on a red-figured stamnos4 ,three women are filling cups1 a kantharos1 and a phiale1 from a stamnos placed on a table4 ,the stamnos contains the mixture of wine and water which formed the regular drink of the ,greeks4 ,illustration3 ,scene on an ,ionic amphora in the collection of the ,marquis of ,northampton4 ,the god ,dionysos and a company of satyrs are drinking and making merry4 ,the wine is in a lebes on a tripod at the right4 ,a satyr is dipping it out with an oinocho without taking the trouble to use a ladle4 ,dionysos himself holds up his large kantharos1 and the satyr at the left grasps a wine-skin and a drinking-horn4 ,illustration3 ,scene on a red-figured kylix in the ,antiquarium1 ,munich4 ,herakles1 wearied with his labors1 is seated on a rock1 while ,athena1 his patroness1 pours wine for him from an oinocho into a kantharos4 ,the trefoil-shaped mouth of the oinocho can be plainly seen4 ,illustration3 ,detail from a scene on the ,ficoroni ,cista in the ,museo ,kircheriano in ,rome4 ,a young man is drinking from a kylix which he holds by one handle4 ,illustration3 ,scene on a hydria in the ,torlonia ,collection in ,rome4 ,two girls are drawing water at a public fountain into large hydriai or water-jars4 ,the girl at the left is lifting her jar upon her head4 ,the other is putting a little cushion for protection on her head1 meanwhile holding her dress away from the water4 ,illustration3 ,scene on a red-figured krater in the ,antiquarium1 ,berlin4 ,two young men are preparing for exercise in a gymnasium4 ,one of them is pouring oil into his hand from an aryballos attached to his wrist by a cord1 in order to rub the liquid over his body4 ,illustration3 ,scene on a red-figured pyxis in the ,british ,museum4 ,a bride is being dressed for her wedding2 a little maid is fastening her shoes while another is bringing her jewelry in a box4 ,at the door stand two marriage vases filled with twigs1 and a loutrophoros nearby also contains branches or flowers4 ,on a little chest stands a pyxis or perfume vase4 ,a mirror hangs on the wall4 ,illustration3 ,scene from a polychrome lekythos in the ,national ,museum1 ,athens4 ,such lekythoi were made especially for offerings to the dead4 ,this picture shows a woman bringing wreaths in a basket to place on a gravestone on the steps of which are lekythoi and oinochoai4 ,behind the monument appears the mound over the grave4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,transcriber',s ,,notes #a4 ,silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling4 #b4 ,retained anachronistic1 non-standard1 and uncertain spellings as printed4 #c4 ,enclosed italics font in underscores4