--- title: Black Figure Pottery author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Figure_Pottery/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2022-12-22 --- # Black Figure Pottery _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ Black figure [pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/pottery/) is a type of [Greek pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Pottery/) named after the colour of the scenes painted on vessels. It was first produced in [Corinth](https://www.worldhistory.org/corinth/) c. 700 BCE and then adopted by pottery painters in Attica, where it would become the dominant decorative style from 625 BCE. Athenian vases then dominated the [Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/) pottery market for the next 150 years. Besides Attica and Corinth, Laconia was a third, albeit minor, producer of the style in the first half of the 6th century BCE. The more than 20,000 surviving black figure vases and vessels of varied form make it possible not only to identify artists and studios, but they also provide the oldest and most diverse representations of [Greek mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Mythology/), [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) scenes, and religious, social, and sporting practices. The pottery vessels are also an important tool in determining the chronology of archaeological sites and the history of ancient [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) in general. The style was eventually replaced by [red-figure pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Red-Figure_Pottery/). ### Development Evolving from the earlier geometric designs on pottery, the black-figure technique depicted animals (more favoured in Corinth) and human silhouette figures (preferred by Athenian painters) in naturalistic detail. Before the firing process, a brilliant black pigment of potash, iron clay, and vinegar (as a fixative) was thickly applied to entire vases or part of the vessel. This black gloss also gave a slight relief effect. Parts of the painted area were then scraped away where not required, leaving a design in silhouette. Additional details such as muscles and hair were added to the figures using a sharp instrument to incise through the black to reveal the clay vessel beneath and by adding touches of red and white paint. Vessel borders and edges were often decorated with floral, lotus, and palmette designs. ### Black-Figure Conventions Certain colour conventions were adopted such as white for female flesh, black for male. Other conventions were an almond shape for [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/)'s eyes, circular for males, children are as adults but on a smaller scale, young men are beardless, old men have white hair and sometimes stoop, and older women are fuller-figured. Some gestures also became conventional such as the hand to the head to represent grief. Another striking feature of the style is the lack of literal naturalism. Figures are often depicted with a profile face and frontal body, and runners are in the impossible position of both left (or right) arms and legs moving forward. There was, however, some attempt at achieving perspective, frontal views of horses and chariots being especially popular. Typical vessels of the style are [amphorae](https://www.worldhistory.org/Amphora/), *lekythoi* (handled bottles), *kylixes* (stemmed drinking cups), plain cups, *pyxides* (lidded boxes), and bowls. [ ![Greek Chariot](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/447.jpg?v=1770573613) Greek Chariot Mark Cartwright (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/447/greek-chariot/ "Greek Chariot")Painters and potters were usually, although not always, separate specialists. The first signed vase was by Sophilos and dates to c. 570 BCE. Many other individual painters have been identified with certainty through their signatures (most commonly as '...made this') and many more unsigned artists may be recognised through their particular style. Perhaps the most celebrated example of the technique is the 6th century [Francois Vase](https://www.worldhistory.org/Francois_Vase/), a large volute *krater*, by Kleitias (c. 570 BCE) which is 66 cm high and covered in 270 human and animal figures depicting an astonishing range of scenes and characters from [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/) including, amongst others, the Olympian gods, centaurs, [Achilles](https://www.worldhistory.org/achilles/), and Peleus. The black-figure style would eventually be replaced by the red-figure (reverse) technique around 530 BCE. The two styles were parallel for some time at the end of the 6th century BCE and there are even 'bilingual' examples of vases with both styles, but the red-figure techniques, with the attempt to more realistically portray the human figure, would eventually become the favoured style of pottery decoration for Greek vases and many other shapes and forms in clay. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Boardman, J. *Athenian Black Figure Vases.* Thames & Hudson, London, 1997.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B000S73SLI/) - [Carpenter, T.H. *Art and Myth in Ancient Greece.* Thames & Hudson, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B000EQ2DA0/) - [Clark, A. *Understanding Greek Vases.* J. Paul Getty Museum, 2002.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0892365994/) - Lane, A. *Greek Pottery.* Faber & Faber, London, 1956 ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **c. 625 BCE**: [Black-figure pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Figure_Pottery/) created in [Corinth](https://www.worldhistory.org/corinth/). - **600 BCE - 550 BCE**: Laconia produces [black-figure pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Figure_Pottery/). - **600 BCE - 500 BCE**: The first depictions on [black-figure pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Figure_Pottery/) of [Hercules](https://www.worldhistory.org/hercules/) fighting the [centaur](https://www.worldhistory.org/centaur/) Nessos. - **600 BCE - 480 BCE**: Attic [black-figure pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Figure_Pottery/) dominates the [greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) ceramic market. - **570 BCE**: First signed example of [black-figure pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Figure_Pottery/) by Sophilos. - **c. 570 BCE - c. 560 BCE**: The black-figure [Francois Vase](https://www.worldhistory.org/Francois_Vase/) is produced in Attica by Ergotimos (potter) and Kleitias (painter). - **570 BCE - 560 BCE**: Kleitias, one of the masters of [black-figure pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Figure_Pottery/) decoration is active. - **560 BCE - 520 BCE**: Chalkidian [black-figure pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Figure_Pottery/) is produced in southern [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/). - **545 BCE - 530 BCE**: Exekias, perhaps the greatest [black-figure pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Figure_Pottery/) painter is active. - **c. 540 BCE**: A black-figure vase by Exekias depicts [Achilles](https://www.worldhistory.org/achilles/) killing the [Amazon](https://www.worldhistory.org/amazon/) Penthesilea. - **c. 530 BCE**: [Red-figure pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Red-Figure_Pottery/) style takes precedent over black-figure. ## Questions & Answers ### What is black-figure style pottery? Black-figure style pottery was made in ancient Greece from around 700 BCE and has designs in black against a red background. ### What is the difference between black-figure pottery and red-figure pottery? The difference between black-figure pottery and red-figure pottery is the former has black designs against a red background and the latter has red designs against a black background. ### How do you make black-figure pottery? Black-figure pottery is made by painting an area of the vessel with a brilliant black pigment of potash, iron clay, and vinegar (as a fixative). After firing, the black is scraped away where not required to leave a silhouette design. ## External Links - [The Colors of Clay (Getty Villa Exhibitions)](http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/colors_clay/homepage.html) ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2012, June 18). Black Figure Pottery. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Black\_Figure\_Pottery/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Figure_Pottery/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Black Figure Pottery." *World History Encyclopedia*, June 18, 2012. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Black\_Figure\_Pottery/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Figure_Pottery/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Black Figure Pottery." *World History Encyclopedia*, 18 Jun 2012, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Black\_Figure\_Pottery/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Figure_Pottery/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 18 June 2012. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). 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