Etruscan Pottery Skyphos with open fan decoration. Spanish Export Licen

ITEM: Skyphos with open fan decoration
MATERIAL: Pottery, Bucchero
CULTURE: Etruscan
PERIOD: 7th - 6th Century B.C
DIMENSIONS: 45 mm x 151 mm x 123 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex European private collection, Ex Lakythos S.A.R.L (1987), Ex Galerie Hydra, Geneva, Switzerland (1984)

The Etruscan Bucchero ware is one of the most distinctive and emblematic forms of ancient Etruscan pottery, flourishing primarily between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE. Its most defining characteristic is its unique, glossy black finish, achieved through a specialized firing technique. Instead of firing the clay in an oxidizing atmosphere (which produces red or buff colors), the potters subjected the vessels to a reducing atmosphere rich in carbon monoxide within an enclosed kiln. This process prevented oxygen from reaching the clay, causing the iron oxides to revert to their metallic state, resulting in a matte or high-gloss black color that permeated the entire body of the clay, rather than just being a surface slip. This technique was highly prized, often giving the ceramic an appearance resembling polished metal.

Bucchero ware is typically categorized into three main phases: Bucchero Sottile (Thin Bucchero), which appeared earliest in the 7th century BCE and is characterized by its exceptionally thin walls and delicate, incised geometric patterns; Bucchero Pesante (Heavy Bucchero), prevalent from the mid-6th century BCE onward, featuring thicker walls, often employing stamping, molding, and relief decoration, sometimes incorporating figures or mythological scenes; and later, Bucchero Grigio (Grey Bucchero), a less refined variant. The shapes of Bucchero vessels often mimic contemporary bronze and silver forms, including kantharoi (drinking cups), oinochoai (wine pitchers), and kyathoi (ladles). The sophisticated technique and metallic sheen meant that Bucchero was often used for banqueting and funerary rituals, holding a high status in the domestic and ceremonial life of the Etruscan elite.

The decorative techniques on Bucchero pottery focused largely on emphasizing the sharp contrast between the black surface and the lines cut into it. Incised decoration (a incisione) was the most common method, using sharp tools to cut geometric motifs, animal friezes, or simple patterns into the leather-hard clay before firing. With the advent of Bucchero Pesante, techniques shifted to relief molding and stamping, allowing for mass-production and greater narrative complexity, often depicting sphinxes, gorgons, and figures from the Dionysian cycle, reflecting the Etruscans' growing contact with and assimilation of Greek mythological themes. The production of Bucchero ware declined significantly after the 5th century BCE as imported Greek painted pottery (especially black-figure and red-figure styles) became overwhelmingly dominant in Etruscan markets.

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and European Union export license

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