M7 CERAMICS factory in Meissen.

Because it is the hardest

ceramic product, porcelain is also used for
Ceramics- comes from the Greek word electrical insulators and laboratory
Keramos meaning potter’s clay equipment.

STAGES IN PRODUCTION METHODS OF DECORATION:

 Incised
1. The Clay state – or greenware. Ware is  Relief/Embossed
formed but hasn’t gone firing. Sanded with  Pierced
fine sandpaper to ensure a smooth finish  Sgrafitto- designs that are drawn with a
pointed tool that scratches through the slip
2. The Biscuit state- or Bisque. Half-baked, the to reveal the body
ware has undergone preliminary low-range  Stamped
firing through a kiln or oven. Underglaze  Stenciled
color and printing are applied. Normally  Decalcomania- the art of transferring from
plain red white or brown color depending on specifically prepared paper to a wood,
the type of clay used. glass, or metal surface.
 Silkscreened
3. The Glazed state – ware is covered with  Lithographed
glaze and undergoes a second firing to  Painted
make wares sanitary. If other decorations
are applied over the glaze, another firing is SLIP – a thick semi-solid fluid composed of clay
subjected. The glaze is a mixture of and water into which the ware is dipped when it
chemicals, mostly silica, and the major is dry enough to dry. The porous body of the
component of glass, clay, water, colorants, piece absorbs the water and the piece is then
and suspension agent allowing chemicals to ready for glaze and firing
stick together.
GREEK CERAMICS
MAIN CLASSIFICATIONS
1. Black Figure Ware
1. Earthenware – soft pottery, probably the Figure are painted black
oldest and the most universal. These are on a red background.
natural clays fired at 900-1200 degrees.
Usually porous and opaque. Southwest 2. Red Figure Ware Figure
Indian work, French cooking utensils, are painted red on a black
Mexican ware, Pennsylvania Dutch background.
tableware are examples of earthenware
3. White
2. Stoneware – clays containing a higher Ground Ware Figures are
percentage of sand and fired from 1200- painted either red or black
1280 degrees. The body is extremely hard on a white background.
and vitrified and impermeable to water.
Maybe dull or glazed in white or colored.
Stoneware was made by the Chinese in MAJOR KINDS OF GREEK CERAMICS
antiquity and became known in Europe.
Although some fine decorative objects are Drinking Cups:
made of it, it is usually used for pickles and 1. Skyphos- is a two-handled deep wine-cup
preserve jars. on a low-flanged base or none. The handles
may be horizontal ear-shaped thumb holds
3. Porcelain – Chinese invention considered that project from the rim (in both Corinthian
as the aristocrat of the potter’s wheel, and Athenian shapes), or they may be loop
contains kaolin and decayed granite and handles at the rim or that stand away from
fired at 1200-1400 degrees. Has a clear the lower part of the body. Skyphoi of the
white color and is extremely hard and type called Glaux (owl) have one horizontal
translucent. Known primarily as a material and one vertical thumb hold handle.
for high-quality vases, tableware, and 2. Kylix – continuous curve shape is a type of
figurines. It was mastered in Germany wine-drinking cup with a broad relatively
 shallow body raised on a stem from a foot painted terracotta pottery but metal
and usually with two horizontal handles oenochoai are also found
disposed symmetrically.
3. Kylix – offset lip shape Water Jugs:
1. Hydria / Kalpis- The hydria has three
Bowls for mixing wine and water: handles. Two horizontal handles on either
1. Column Krater- This form originated in side of the body of the pot were used for
Corinth in the seventh century BCE but was lifting and carrying the pot. The third handle,
taken over by the Athenians where it is a vertical one, located in the center of the
typically black-figure. They ranged in size other two handles, was used when pouring
from 35 centimeters (14 in) to 56 water. This water vessel can be found in
centimeters (22 in) in height and were both red and black-figure techniques. They
usually thrown in three pieces: the body/ often depicted scenes of Greek mythology
shoulder area was one, the base another, that reflected moral and social obligations.
and the neck/ lip/ rim a third. The handles
were pulled separately. Oil Flasks:
1. Lekythos- it is a type of Greek pottery used
2. Volute Krater- This type of krater, defined by for storing oil especially olive oil. It has a
volute-shaped handles, was invented in narrow body and one handle attached to the
Laconia in the early 6th century BC, then neck of the vessel.
adopted by Attic potters. Its production was 2. Aryballos- a small spherical or globular flask
carried on by Greeks in Apulia until the end with a narrow neck used in Ancient Greece.
of the 4th century BC. Its shape and method It was used to contain perfume or oil and is
of manufacture are similar to those of the often depicted in vase paintings being used
column krater, but the handles are unique: by athletes during bathing. In these
to make each, the potter would have first depictions, the vessel is at times attached
made two side spirals ("volutes") as by a strap to the athlete's wrist, or hung by a
decorative disks, then attached a long thin strap from a peg on the wall.
slab of clay around them both forming a
drum with flanged edges. This strip would Storage Jars:
then have been continued downward until 1. Amphora is a type of container of a
the bottom of the handle where the potter characteristic shape and size, descending
would have cut a U-shaped arch in the clay from at least as early as the Neolithic
before attaching the handle to the body of Period. Amphorae were used in vast
the vase. numbers for the transport and storage of
various products, both liquid and dry, but
3. Calyx Krater- These are among the largest mostly for wine.
of the kraters, supposedly developed by the
potter Exekias in black figure though in fact 2. Neck Amphora
almost always seen in red. The lower body 3. Pelike- is a one-piece ceramic container
is shaped like the calyx of a flower, and the similar to an amphora. It has two open
foot is stepped. The psykter-shaped vase handles that are vertical on their lateral
fits inside it so well stylistically that it has aspects and even at the side with the edge
been suggested that the two might have of the belly, a narrow neck, a flanged
often been made as a set. It is always made mouth, and a sagging, almost spherical
with two robust upturned handles positioned belly. Unlike the often-pointed bottom of
on opposite sides of the lower body or "cul". many amphorae, the pelike's bottom is
always flanged so it will stand on its own.
4. Bell Krater- This form looks like an inverted
bell. All bell kraters are red-figure. Wine or Water Container:
1. Stamnos- is a type of Greek pottery used to
Wine Jugs: store liquids. It is much squatter than an
1. Oinochoe amphora and has two stubby handles
2. Oinochous relatively high on its sides. It is a relatively
Oenochoai typically has only one handle at unusual container form. Generally, it was
the back and may include a trefoil pouring used for mixing and storing.
spout. The Greek oenochoe was normally of
ITALIAN CERAMICS Doccia copied the Naples work founded by
Charles III at Capo di Monte, manyo f which he
It was in the early renaissance that ceramics constructed with his own hands.
were first utilized in Italy and these were usually
utilitarian in nature. They were influenced by the The factory developed a formula for a
Moorish Majorca waves, which was tin-glazed distinctive soft-paste porcelain body that is
earthenware, from Majorca in neighboring characterized by a pronounced creamy color
Spain. By the beginning of the 15th century, and an unusually glossy clear glaze. Its soft
Italian potters had abandoned the old familiar paste is a particularly successful medium for
processes and a revolution in style and undecorated porcelain sculpture. The mark of
techniques was underway. Majolica had the last Capo di Monte is an N surmounted by a crown
flowering at Urbino in the last third of the in blue. The manufacture languished after the
sixteenth century, wherein a new, rich accession of Ferdinand then passed on to
decorative style known as Istoriato reached its Ginori family. In one or two cases the letters
zenith. But by the end of the century, production R.F. are substituted, made during Ferdinand’s
had declined due to economic constraints, time.
although the so-called Bianchi di Faenza, lightly
decorated white wares made in Faenza The work of Capo di Monte has been imitated
continued the tradition of new designs and fine at Dresden, but not successfully; the best
workmanship. features of ware departed when the original
Manufactory expired.
Example: PASSERI – An Italian antiquary of
distinction he claims the discovery and
introduction of the ware for Pesaro. He alone
records the art of pottery making in Italy as
early as the 13th century.

LUCCA DELLA ROBIA- Born in the city of

Florence in the year 1400. He was a successful
goldsmith and sculptor, in the latter of which he
attained extraordinary success. He proposed to
himself the question of producing his works in
baked clay, covered with a glazing, as a
substance more flexible than and quite as
durable as the marble itself.

It was not until 1720 that porcelain was again

produced in Italy on any significant scale. In
that year, Francesco Vezzi established a
porcelain factory in Venice. After that the came
DOCCIA WARE and history of this manufactory
is contemporaneous with that of the Royal
French fabrique at Serves. The principal feature
of the Doccia ware is its admirable imitations of
the majolica and successful reproduction of the
bas-reliefs of Luca Della Robbia in porcelain.

The factory was founded in Doccia, near

Florence, began using tin glaze in the 1760s
that create an opaque, milky white surface that
masked the grey tone of the porcelain. Doccia
ware was known to have excelled in the
production of porcelain sculptures.

The principal mark of the Doccia ware is two

triangles crossed, forming a six pointed star; in
the finer specimens this is in gold.