The Minoan and Mycenaean Pottery Part 8
SOME POPULAR POTTERS AND THEIR POTTERY DECORATIONS
KAMARES WARE
Kamares ware are a distinctive type of Minoan pottery produced in Crete during the Minoan period, dating to Middle Minoan 1A (ca,2100 BCE) By the Late Minoan 1A period (ca. 1450 or the end of the First Palace Period). The designs are typically executed in white, red and blue on a black field Typical designs include abstract floral motifs. Surviving examples include ridged cups, small round spouted jars and large storage jars, on which combinations of abstract curvilinear designs and stylized plant and marine motifs are painted in white and tones of red, orange, and yellow on a black background. The Kamares style was often elaborate, with complex patterns on pottery of eggshell thinness. Sets of jugs and cups have been found and it has been suggested that these may have been used in ritual. However, it is also thought that the exquisite Kamares wares would have been used in the Palaces.
Kamares Ware Jar c1800 – 1700 BC
Kamares Ware Stirrup Jar Middle Minoan (Marine Style )
AGIOS ONOUPHRIOS WARE
The painted parallel – line decoration of the Agios Onouphrios Ware, was drawn with an iron-red clay slip that would fire red under oxidizing conditions in a clean kiln, but under the reducing conditions of a smoky fire turn darker without much control over colour which would range from red to brown.. A dark on – light painted pattern was then applied.
Early Minoan Round Bottom Jug Agios Onouphrios Ware
VASILIKI WARE
Vasiliki pottery includes a reddish – brown wash applied early to mimic stone vases. The mottling was produced by even firing on the slip- covered pot, with the hottest areas turning dark. There is also a style painted in a creamy white over the reddish – brown wash applied all over the body. The first example of Vasiliki Ware are to be found in Crete during during the Early Minoan 11A period, but it is in the next perio, Early Minoan 11B that it becomes the dominant form among the fine wares throughout Eastern Crete and Southern Crete
Vasiliki White Style Teapot c 2300 – 2000BC
PYRGOS WARE
The major form of this ware was the chalice, in which a cup combined with a funnel – shaped stand, could be set on a hard surface without spilling.As the Pyrgos site was a rock shelter used as an ossuary, some think it may have been for ceremonial use. This type of pottery was black, grey and brown, burnished and decorated with incised linear designs, possibly in the attempt to imitate wood.
Pyrgos Ware Chalice Early Minoan
It seems that these were the most exquisite popular pottery shapes and decorations and were made at the Palace workshops, whereas the more mundane pottery was most likely locally made.
In the Late Helladic 1-11A pottery is distinguished by the use of more lustrous paint than their predecessors, whereas in the Middle Helladic period matt paints were used on Middle Helladic shapes.
Late Helladic 111A2 Krater Lustrous painted
Late Helladic Palace style Amphora
Late Helladic Kylix Cup
There is some question with regard to how much of the pottery of Early Mycenaean age, relies on Minoan pottery for both their shapes and patterns. For at least the first half of the seventeenth century BC there is only a small amount of all pottery produced that is in the Minoan style.
Pottery in the Late Helladic 1 (c1675 – 1650 – 1600 -1550 ) varies somewhat in style from one area to another. Due to the influence of Minoan Crete, the further south the site, the more the pottery is of Minoan style. Some of the matt painted wares from the Middle Helladic period carry on into the Late Helladic period
Middle Helladic Matt Painted Vase.
In the Late Helladic 11A (c1600-1550 – 1490 – 1470 BC) there seems to be an increase in uniformity in the Peloponnese in both painting and shape. However, Central Greece is still recognized as Helladic pottery, showing little Minoan influence. By this time the matt painted pottery is less common.
During Late Helladic 111A1 ( 1435 – 1405 – 1390 – 1370BC) many changes occur. The transformation from Goblet to Kylix whereby the goblet lengthens its stem and in this period, the stirrup jar becomes a popular style.
In Late Helladic 111A2 (c 1390 – 1370 1320 – 1300BC), The stirrup jar, piriform jar and alabastron are mostly found in tombs. The kylix becomes the dominant shape of pottery found in settlements during this period, while the deep bowl becomes the most popular decorated shape during the Late Helladic c 111B (c 1320 – 1300 – 1190 BC) although, for unpainted wares the Kylix is still the most produced
Late Helladic Piriform Jar
During the Late Helladic 111B1 there were two sub – phases, characterized by the presence of both painted deep bowls and Kilikes and in the Late Helladic 111B2 there is an absence of decorated Kylix and deep bowl styles develop in rosette forms.
Late Helladic 111B Deep Bowl
It is unknown how long each sub-phase lasted, however, by the end of the Late Helladic 111B2 the palaces of Mycenae and Tyrins and the citadel at Midea had all been destroyed. The palace of Pylos was also destroyed at some point during this time, but it is impossible to tell when in relation to the others the destruction took place.
It seems that the ceramic shapes and decorations discovered during this final period, show that the production of pottery was reduced to little more than a household industry, suggesting that this must have been a time of decline in Greece. Today, however, the reproductions of these exquisite forms and decorations of the Minoan and Mycenaean pottery, still holds its popularity throughout the world as it did in ancient times.
This is my final post for the Minoan and Mycenaean Pottery shapes and decorations
For those of you who were interested in this fascinating subject from ancient times, I hope you enjoyed.
Thanks for reading.