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Greek Vases: Ancient, Authentic And Antique
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Published: November 17, 2006
The history of Greek culture is detailed on ancient painted pottery giving a vivid insight to what life was like back as far as the 2nd millennium B.C. Ancient Greek vases were made of the highest quality and able to survive the elements.
Ancient Greek vases were high in quality and known for there detailed decoration.
Greek vases were painted with illustrations that tell a story. Greek culture is rich with stories and mythology that has been passed down through generations. Stories and poems from ancient Greece are still popular today such as The Epics of Homer and Cyclic Poets.
Ancient Greek vases were used in varies social occasions. They are classified by the shape of the vase. There are about a hundred different types of Greek vases and many with sub-types. In general terms, there are four classes that Greek vases can be placed in:
These four classes are based on the style of the Greek vase and the content of the painted illustration.
The Greek Amphora vase is a two-handled jar with a narrow neck. This ancient Greek vase style was used long ago for storage and to transport wine or oil. The painting on the Greek Amphora vase was often of human figures at work. The Greek Amphora vase is one of the most popular styles to reproduce by modern day sculptors.
The Loutrophoros Greek vase, translated as carrier of washing-water, is used to carry water. This style of Greek vase was only used back in ancient times for ritual occasions like weddings and funerals. The paintings on this style of ancient Greek vase were of wedding processions or mourners depending on the occasion it was intended for. The Loustrophoros Greek vase is similar in style to the Greek Amphora vase, only taller.
As with many antique items, there will always be fake versions out there. Do not be fooled however, there are some simple things to look for to tell if an ancient Greek vase is truly an antique. There is also a test that you can do that is surprisingly easy to check if an ancient Greek vase is real or a recent copy.
The first test that should be done is wet a small area of the ceramic with your finger or cloth. If the object is authentic it will give off a smell similar to that of warm earth after a summer rain. This is because the ceramic was preserved by being buried for centuries under ground and the smell of the humidity and soil penetrated the ceramic body.
The second thing to look for to tell if the pottery is a fake is to look with a magnifying glass for petrified traces of root. Copy makers will try to emulate this with glue and cement, but real petrified traces of root are semi-circular and said to be clearly distinguishable.
Thirdly, an absolutely certain indication of authenticity is the presence of carbonized mould fungi. Check with a magnifying glass for a dark, almost black crystalline mass. Copy makers will try to forge this by spraying black paint blotches that commonly show up as round, a clear sign that it is not real. When this fungus is real, it will be shaped in an irregular way.
Fake excavated pottery and 19th century copies thereof also give themselves away because the objects are often bigger and more beautiful than the originals.
Antique Greek vases are treasured by collectors and anyone who has an appreciation for times past. Greek vases were innovative for their era. The Greek Amphora vase will forever be used in today’s world. Their craftsmanship and artistic eye was aware of every beautiful detail that has been passed down for centuries.
"Determining the Authenticity of Excavated Objects of Art." Excavated Art Authenticity. 2006. Museo d'Arte e Scienza. 16 Nov. 2006 <www.excavatedartauthenticity.com/>.
"Greek Vase Shapes." 20 Jan. 2000. 15 Nov. 2006 <www.mkatz.web.wesleyan.edu/vases/vase_shapes.h tml>.
Lissarrague, Francois. Greek Vases: the Athenians and Their Images. Italy: Riverside Book Co., INC, 1999.
Williams, Dyfri. Greek Vases. Cambridge, Massachusetst: Harvard UP, 1985.
Ancient Greek vases were high in quality and known for there detailed decoration.
Related Articles
Ancient Greek vases were used in varies social occasions. They are classified by the shape of the vase. There are about a hundred different types of Greek vases and many with sub-types. In general terms, there are four classes that Greek vases can be placed in:
- Mythology
- Heroic Age of early Greek history
- Known history
- Contemporary manners and customs
These four classes are based on the style of the Greek vase and the content of the painted illustration.
The Greek Amphora vase is a two-handled jar with a narrow neck. This ancient Greek vase style was used long ago for storage and to transport wine or oil. The painting on the Greek Amphora vase was often of human figures at work. The Greek Amphora vase is one of the most popular styles to reproduce by modern day sculptors.
The Loutrophoros Greek vase, translated as carrier of washing-water, is used to carry water. This style of Greek vase was only used back in ancient times for ritual occasions like weddings and funerals. The paintings on this style of ancient Greek vase were of wedding processions or mourners depending on the occasion it was intended for. The Loustrophoros Greek vase is similar in style to the Greek Amphora vase, only taller.
As with many antique items, there will always be fake versions out there. Do not be fooled however, there are some simple things to look for to tell if an ancient Greek vase is truly an antique. There is also a test that you can do that is surprisingly easy to check if an ancient Greek vase is real or a recent copy.
The first test that should be done is wet a small area of the ceramic with your finger or cloth. If the object is authentic it will give off a smell similar to that of warm earth after a summer rain. This is because the ceramic was preserved by being buried for centuries under ground and the smell of the humidity and soil penetrated the ceramic body.
The second thing to look for to tell if the pottery is a fake is to look with a magnifying glass for petrified traces of root. Copy makers will try to emulate this with glue and cement, but real petrified traces of root are semi-circular and said to be clearly distinguishable.
Thirdly, an absolutely certain indication of authenticity is the presence of carbonized mould fungi. Check with a magnifying glass for a dark, almost black crystalline mass. Copy makers will try to forge this by spraying black paint blotches that commonly show up as round, a clear sign that it is not real. When this fungus is real, it will be shaped in an irregular way.
Fake excavated pottery and 19th century copies thereof also give themselves away because the objects are often bigger and more beautiful than the originals.
Antique Greek vases are treasured by collectors and anyone who has an appreciation for times past. Greek vases were innovative for their era. The Greek Amphora vase will forever be used in today’s world. Their craftsmanship and artistic eye was aware of every beautiful detail that has been passed down for centuries.
"Determining the Authenticity of Excavated Objects of Art." Excavated Art Authenticity. 2006. Museo d'Arte e Scienza. 16 Nov. 2006 <www.excavatedartauthenticity.com/>.
"Greek Vase Shapes." 20 Jan. 2000. 15 Nov. 2006 <www.mkatz.web.wesleyan.edu/vases/vase_shapes.h tml>.
Lissarrague, Francois. Greek Vases: the Athenians and Their Images. Italy: Riverside Book Co., INC, 1999.
Williams, Dyfri. Greek Vases. Cambridge, Massachusetst: Harvard UP, 1985.
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