Ancient Greek Pottery
Ancient Greek pottery provides in important inside into a time before written records, such pots share functional vessels with higher meaning with inscriptions/paintings on the exterior of stories. Such stories feature tales of everyday lives, practices, and religion of the ancient Greeks. Also tales of war and heroes.
Religion: Early storage bowl called lekane shows a sacrificial procession to the goddess Athena (1).
Slavery: This novelty cup is in the shape of a person head. It stands as a reminder of how the Greeks had defeated the Persians in war(2a). On the rim of this cup is a Persian slave(2b).
Ancient Greek pottery were used in the everyday. They were many different shapes that were used for different purposes.
o The Hydria was used principally to store water. This is one of the most common shapes in Greek pottery(3).
o The Krater was used to mix water and wine(4).
o The Kyathos is a ladle-like cup used for serving= wine(5).
o The Kylix used for drinking wine. Over 30 varieties exist(6).
o The Lebes Gamikos was used during marriage and ceremonies(7).
As shown, different types of vessels are used for a wide range of activities. There are also many more
Greek pots were made by potters. The first material is clay, it is dug from the ground and shaped on a wheel. The Greek clay is high in iron which gives it its orange colour, this may also be called terracotta. The vessel is painted then fired in a kiln.
There are 2 main techniques of vase painting: black and red figure. In black figure vase painting, figurative and ornamental features were applied with a slip that turned black during firing, while the background remained the colour of the clay. In contrast, red figure vases remained the colour of the clay while the background is turned black with a slip.
Geometric patterns appeared at a later time, featuring in the main body of the vase between the handles. Bold linear designs are featured in this space with vertical line decoration on either side.
Grayson Perry
Grayson perry ceramic works have not so much a practical meaning but the detail of the pots and its subtexts. Each vessel tells a range of stories such as current political issues(1), art history, religious scenes(2), pop culture(3) and the royal family to bibliographical and personal stories(4) such as child abuse, his sexuality and his family. These pieces each have different meanings but all allow an insight into Percy’s artistic mind.
The shape of his vessels is much influenced by classic Greecian-like urns and refers to several ceramic traditions, including Greek pottery and folk art.
Grayson perry work does not necessarily have a practical use, it is more used/displayed in gallery’s as narrative sculptures.
His vessels are made by coiling, a traditional method. Most have a complex surface employing many techniques, including glazing, incision, embossing(5), sgraffito drawings(6), handwritten and stencilled texts, and the use of photographic transfers(7) which requires several firings.
The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson perry is a complex character in himself, an English artist, known mainly for his ceramic vases and cross-dressing.
He identifies as a transvestite and dresses as his female alter ego Clare(8). He quotes “One of the reasons I dress up as a woman is my low self-esteem”.
He lives in London with his wife, the author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry. They have one daughter, Florence, born in 1992. One of the unique qualities about his work is his ability to tell stories through his pieces, whether it be tapestry, pottery or one of his many other mediums. The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson Perry
Grayson perry ceramic works have not so much a practical meaning but the detail of the pots and its subtexts. Each vessel tells a range of stories such as current political issues(1), art history, religious scenes(2), pop culture(3) and the royal family to bibliographical and personal stories(4) such as child abuse, his sexuality and his family. These pieces each have different meanings but all allow an insight into Percy’s artistic mind.
The shape of his vessels is much influenced by classic Greecian-like urns and refers to several ceramic traditions, including Greek pottery and folk art.
Grayson perry work does not necessarily have a practical use, it is more used/displayed in gallery’s as narrative sculptures.
His vessels are made by coiling, a traditional method. Most have a complex surface employing many techniques, including glazing, incision, embossing(5), sgraffito drawings(6), handwritten and stencilled texts, and the use of photographic transfers(7) which requires several firings.
The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson perry is a complex character in himself, an English artist, known mainly for his ceramic vases and cross-dressing.
He identifies as a transvestite and dresses as his female alter ego Clare(8). He quotes “One of the reasons I dress up as a woman is my low self-esteem”.
He lives in London with his wife, the author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry. They have one daughter, Florence, born in 1992. One of the unique qualities about his work is his ability to tell stories through his pieces, whether it be tapestry, pottery or one of his many other mediums. The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson Perry
Grayson perry ceramic works have not so much a practical meaning but the detail of the pots and its subtexts. Each vessel tells a range of stories such as current political issues(1), art history, religious scenes(2), pop culture(3) and the royal family to bibliographical and personal stories(4) such as child abuse, his sexuality and his family. These pieces each have different meanings but all allow an insight into Percy’s artistic mind.
The shape of his vessels is much influenced by classic Greecian-like urns and refers to several ceramic traditions, including Greek pottery and folk art.
Grayson perry work does not necessarily have a practical use, it is more used/displayed in gallery’s as narrative sculptures.
His vessels are made by coiling, a traditional method. Most have a complex surface employing many techniques, including glazing, incision, embossing(5), sgraffito drawings(6), handwritten and stencilled texts, and the use of photographic transfers(7) which requires several firings.
The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson perry is a complex character in himself, an English artist, known mainly for his ceramic vases and cross-dressing.
He identifies as a transvestite and dresses as his female alter ego Clare(8). He quotes “One of the reasons I dress up as a woman is my low self-esteem”.
He lives in London with his wife, the author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry. They have one daughter, Florence, born in 1992. One of the unique qualities about his work is his ability to tell stories through his pieces, whether it be tapestry, pottery or one of his many other mediums. The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson Perry
Grayson perry ceramic works have not so much a practical meaning but the detail of the pots and its subtexts. Each vessel tells a range of stories such as current political issues(1), art history, religious scenes(2), pop culture(3) and the royal family to bibliographical and personal stories(4) such as child abuse, his sexuality and his family. These pieces each have different meanings but all allow an insight into Percy’s artistic mind.
The shape of his vessels is much influenced by classic Greecian-like urns and refers to several ceramic traditions, including Greek pottery and folk art.
Grayson perry work does not necessarily have a practical use, it is more used/displayed in gallery’s as narrative sculptures.
His vessels are made by coiling, a traditional method. Most have a complex surface employing many techniques, including glazing, incision, embossing(5), sgraffito drawings(6), handwritten and stencilled texts, and the use of photographic transfers(7) which requires several firings.
The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson perry is a complex character in himself, an English artist, known mainly for his ceramic vases and cross-dressing.
He identifies as a transvestite and dresses as his female alter ego Clare(8). He quotes “One of the reasons I dress up as a woman is my low self-esteem”.
He lives in London with his wife, the author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry. They have one daughter, Florence, born in 1992. One of the unique qualities about his work is his ability to tell stories through his pieces, whether it be tapestry, pottery or one of his many other mediums. The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson Perry
Grayson perry ceramic works have not so much a practical meaning but the detail of the pots and its subtexts. Each vessel tells a range of stories such as current political issues(1), art history, religious scenes(2), pop culture(3) and the royal family to bibliographical and personal stories(4) such as child abuse, his sexuality and his family. These pieces each have different meanings but all allow an insight into Percy’s artistic mind.
The shape of his vessels is much influenced by classic Greecian-like urns and refers to several ceramic traditions, including Greek pottery and folk art.
Grayson perry work does not necessarily have a practical use, it is more used/displayed in gallery’s as narrative sculptures.
His vessels are made by coiling, a traditional method. Most have a complex surface employing many techniques, including glazing, incision, embossing(5), sgraffito drawings(6), handwritten and stencilled texts, and the use of photographic transfers(7) which requires several firings.
The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson perry is a complex character in himself, an English artist, known mainly for his ceramic vases and cross-dressing.
He identifies as a transvestite and dresses as his female alter ego Clare(8). He quotes “One of the reasons I dress up as a woman is my low self-esteem”.
He lives in London with his wife, the author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry. They have one daughter, Florence, born in 1992. One of the unique qualities about his work is his ability to tell stories through his pieces, whether it be tapestry, pottery or one of his many other mediums. The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson Perry
Grayson perry ceramic works have not so much a practical meaning but the detail of the pots and its subtexts. Each vessel tells a range of stories such as current political issues(1), art history, religious scenes(2), pop culture(3) and the royal family to bibliographical and personal stories(4) such as child abuse, his sexuality and his family. These pieces each have different meanings but all allow an insight into Percy’s artistic mind.
The shape of his vessels is much influenced by classic Greecian-like urns and refers to several ceramic traditions, including Greek pottery and folk art.
Grayson perry work does not necessarily have a practical use, it is more used/displayed in gallery’s as narrative sculptures.
His vessels are made by coiling, a traditional method. Most have a complex surface employing many techniques, including glazing, incision, embossing(5), sgraffito drawings(6), handwritten and stencilled texts, and the use of photographic transfers(7) which requires several firings.
The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson perry is a complex character in himself, an English artist, known mainly for his ceramic vases and cross-dressing.
He identifies as a transvestite and dresses as his female alter ego Clare(8). He quotes “One of the reasons I dress up as a woman is my low self-esteem”.
He lives in London with his wife, the author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry. They have one daughter, Florence, born in 1992. One of the unique qualities about his work is his ability to tell stories through his pieces, whether it be tapestry, pottery or one of his many other mediums. The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson Perry
Grayson perry ceramic works have not so much a practical meaning but the detail of the pots and its subtexts. Each vessel tells a range of stories such as current political issues(1), art history, religious scenes(2), pop culture(3) and the royal family to bibliographical and personal stories(4) such as child abuse, his sexuality and his family. These pieces each have different meanings but all allow an insight into Percy’s artistic mind.
The shape of his vessels is much influenced by classic Greecian-like urns and refers to several ceramic traditions, including Greek pottery and folk art.
Grayson perry work does not necessarily have a practical use, it is more used/displayed in gallery’s as narrative sculptures.
His vessels are made by coiling, a traditional method. Most have a complex surface employing many techniques, including glazing, incision, embossing(5), sgraffito drawings(6), handwritten and stencilled texts, and the use of photographic transfers(7) which requires several firings.
The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson perry is a complex character in himself, an English artist, known mainly for his ceramic vases and cross-dressing.
He identifies as a transvestite and dresses as his female alter ego Clare(8). He quotes “One of the reasons I dress up as a woman is my low self-esteem”.
He lives in London with his wife, the author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry. They have one daughter, Florence, born in 1992. One of the unique qualities about his work is his ability to tell stories through his pieces, whether it be tapestry, pottery or one of his many other mediums. The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson Perry
Grayson perry ceramic works have not so much a practical meaning but the detail of the pots and its subtexts. Each vessel tells a range of stories such as current political issues(1), art history, religious scenes(2), pop culture(3) and the royal family to bibliographical and personal stories(4) such as child abuse, his sexuality and his family. These pieces each have different meanings but all allow an insight into Percy’s artistic mind.
The shape of his vessels is much influenced by classic Greecian-like urns and refers to several ceramic traditions, including Greek pottery and folk art.
Grayson perry work does not necessarily have a practical use, it is more used/displayed in gallery’s as narrative sculptures.
His vessels are made by coiling, a traditional method. Most have a complex surface employing many techniques, including glazing, incision, embossing(5), sgraffito drawings(6), handwritten and stencilled texts, and the use of photographic transfers(7) which requires several firings.
The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Grayson perry is a complex character in himself, an English artist, known mainly for his ceramic vases and cross-dressing.
He identifies as a transvestite and dresses as his female alter ego Clare(8). He quotes “One of the reasons I dress up as a woman is my low self-esteem”.
He lives in London with his wife, the author and psychotherapist Philippa Perry. They have one daughter, Florence, born in 1992. One of the unique qualities about his work is his ability to tell stories through his pieces, whether it be tapestry, pottery or one of his many other mediums. The signs and symbols used to convey meaning are his range of techniques to express the psychologically complex tone to the narrative of the piece.
Compare
Structural
I feel that the Greek ceramics have more order to the designs. Similar conventions are effectively used as all vessels had to be perfect and flawless for use.
Grayson perry ceramics were all structurally sound but the usual rules have been overlooked for the exterior design aspect.
Cultural
Ancient Greek ceramics have stories displayed on the exterior of the vessels of culture in Ancient Greece. The designs are very much influenced by ideologies of richness, diversity(slaves) and the general society.
Perrys pieces also tell stories of present societal representations. His ideals of sexuality and religion are just some of the current values displayed in his work.
By Grace Moore