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The Technological Development of Decorated Corinthian Pottery, 8th to 6th Centuries BCE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2015

Jay A. Stephens ,
Pamela B. Vandiver ,
Stephen A. Hernandez  and
David Killick
Jay A. Stephens
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
Pamela B. Vandiver
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 86721 USA
Stephen A. Hernandez
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 86721 USA
David Killick
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
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Abstract

Polychrome slipped and decorated pottery from Corinth, Greece, developed over two centuries from monochrome, dark brown slips and washes on a calcareous yellow clay body to a wide range of decorative techniques. Once significant experimentation with color variability began, five colors, each with various levels of gloss, were produced. Some slip colors involve multiple-step processing to control glass content and degree of sintering; the control of particle size to produce variable roughness and a matte or semi-matt or glossy appearance. Considerable evidence supports nearly continuous development and engineering of the ceramic slips, although no data support the improvement in composition or processing of the ceramic bodies. For instance, significant macro-porosity consistently is present in the bodies. We present the results of study of 27 sherds with 59 examples of Corinthian polychrome paint layers, measuring 5 to 35 microns in thickness, that were collected by Marie Farnsworth in the late 1950s and 1960s from Greek archaeological sites. Black, red, white, wine red (or purple) and overlying, matte banded slips and paints were studied by optical microscopy, petrographic and scanning-electron microscopy with semi-quantative energy dispersive x-ray analysis, as well as wavelength-dispersive electron microprobe (EPMA) elemental mapping and analysis.

Keywords

archaeologyceramicchemical composition
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1656: Symposium PP – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology X , 2014 , pp. 233 - 250
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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