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What is the difference between black figure and red figure Greek pottery?
1 Answer

The difference between black-figure and red-figure Greek pottery is that in black-figure pottery, figural and ornamental motifs were applied with a slip that turned black during firing and the background was color of the clay, whereas the decorative motifs on red-figure vases remained the color of the clay; the background, filled in with a slip, turned black. Red-figure is essentially the reverse of a black figure. On 1stDibs, shop vintage and antique Greek pottery.
1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
Shop for Greek Red Figure on 1stDibs
Ancient Greek Red-Figure Terracotta Pelike (Jar), 5th–4th Century BCE
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Presenting an exquisite ancient Greek red-figure terracotta pelike (storage jar) standing 10.5
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Greek Classical Greek Antiquities
Materials
Terracotta
Large Greek Museum Reproduction Red Figure Hydria Water Jug
Located in Bridgeport, CT
reproduction of a classical mid fifth century BCE red figure hydria or three handled footed water jug. A maiden
Category
20th Century Greek Neoclassical Urns
Materials
Pottery
Enormous Greek Apulian Red Figure Lekythos, 19th/20th Century
Located in Beachwood, OH
Enormous Greek Apulian Red Figure Lekythos, 19th/20th Century
Terracotta
41 x 15 inches
This has
Category
Early 20th Century More Art
Materials
Terracotta
Set of Three Framed Prints Depicting Greek Apulian Red-Figure Pottery
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Set of three framed prints depicting Greek glassical red-figure pottery.
Left print: Marked
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Classical Roman Prints
Materials
Wood, Paper
Athenian Red Figure Vases, the Archaic Period
Located in Bradenton, FL
Athenian red figure vases, the Archaic Period by John Boardman. Paperback book, published in 1985
Category
Vintage 1980s Spanish Classical Greek Books
Materials
Paper
Apulian Red-Figure Volute Krater
Located in New Orleans, LA
Apulian Red-Figure Volute Krater
Circa 4th Century BCE
An extraordinary artifact of Ancient Greek
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Vases
Materials
Ceramic