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

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.

Greek Red Figure Pottery

Male Nude Abstract Paintings

Ancient Greek Red-Figure Pottery Hydria, Apulian, Circa 340-320 BC

$20,703

H 16.15 in W 13.39 in D 12.6 in

Ancient Greek Red-Figure Pottery Hydria, Apulian, Circa 340-320 BC

Located in London, GB

in 2000 The Ancient Greek red-figured hydria (water jar) is from Apulia in the Greek regions of

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Greek Antiquities

Materials

Ceramic, Terracotta

Attic Red-Figure Pottery Column Krater, Painter of the Louvre Centauromachy

$48,308

H 15.01 in W 13.78 in D 11.82 in

Attic Red-Figure Pottery Column Krater, Painter of the Louvre Centauromachy

Located in London, GB

This impressive Classical Greek red-figure pottery krater originates from Athens and dates to the

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Greek Classical Greek Antiquities

Materials

Pottery

Ancient Paestan Red-Figure Kylix

$45,000

H 5.75 in W 14 in D 10 in

Ancient Paestan Red-Figure Kylix

Located in Los Angeles, CA

developed upon earlier red-figure styles of painting and forms, with some taking the embellishments to new

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Greek Pottery

Materials

Terracotta

Marco Silombria Eros on Dolphin. Dionisian series by Marco Silombria

$357Sale Price|28% Off

H 39.38 in W 28.35 in

Eros on Dolphin. Dionisian series by Marco Silombria

Located in Firenze, IT

a dolphin, floats against a black background that directly evokes Greek red-figure pottery. The body

Category

Late 20th Century Pop Art Nude Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic, Illustration Board

Tiffany Studios New York "Vine Border" Floor Lamp

$32,500

H 57.5 in Dm 12 in

Tiffany Studios New York "Vine Border" Floor Lamp

By Tiffany Studios

Located in New York, NY

Greek red-figure pottery, typically on vessels meant for storing or mixing wine. On such vessels

Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Floor Lamps

Materials

Bronze

Set of Three Framed Prints Depicting Greek Apulian Red-Figure Pottery

$995 / set

H 23 in W 18.5 in D 1 in

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

Attic Red-Figure Neck Amphora, by the Painter Of The Louvre Centauromachy

$20,722

H 13 in W 6.3 in D 4.73 in

Attic Red-Figure Neck Amphora, by the Painter Of The Louvre Centauromachy

Located in London, GB

with a similar scene see p. 670, nos. 11 and 12 in J.D. Beazley, 'Attic Red-Figure Vase-painters

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Greek Classical Greek Antiquities

Materials

Pottery

Recent Sales

Pair of German Engravings

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H 16 in W 20.75 in

Pair of German Engravings

Located in New York, NY

Pair of 19th Century German hand colored engraving, depicting ancient Greek "red figure" pottery

Category

Antique 19th Century German Prints

Ancient Greek Apulian Red Figure Pottery Lekanis, 4th Century BC

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H 5.4 in W 8.75 in D 8.75 in

Ancient Greek Apulian Red Figure Pottery Lekanis, 4th Century BC

Located in London, GB

A beautiful ancient Greek Apulian red-figure lekanis, dating to 350–300 BC. The lekanis of

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Greek Classical Greek Antiquities

Materials

Pottery

Ancient Greek Apulian Red Figure Pottery Fish Plate, 4th Century BC

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H 8.6 in Dm 8.6 in

Ancient Greek Apulian Red Figure Pottery Fish Plate, 4th Century BC

Located in London, GB

An ancient Apulian Greek red-figure fish plate, dating to the 4th century BC. Sitting upon a

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Antiquities

Materials

Pottery

Ancient Greek Apulian Red-Figure Ceramic Pottery Bottle, 4th Century B.C.

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H 5 in W 3 in D 5 in

Ancient Greek Apulian Red-Figure Ceramic Pottery Bottle, 4th Century B.C.

Located in London, GB

A particularly finely painted ancient Greek Apulian red-figure bottle, dating to the 4th century

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Antiquities

Ancient Greek Red Figure Campanian Ram Head Rhyton Vessel, 350 BC

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H 8 in Dm 6 in

Ancient Greek Red Figure Campanian Ram Head Rhyton Vessel, 350 BC

Located in London, GB

ceramic. The beauty in Greek pottery is often found in two dimensional painted scenes in either red or

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Antiquities

Materials

Pottery

Tiffany Studios New York "Vine Border" Plafonnier

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H 12 in Dm 11.5 in

Tiffany Studios New York "Vine Border" Plafonnier

By Louis Comfort Tiffany

Located in New York, NY

a grape leaf frieze. The vine border pattern was commonly found on Greek red-figure pottery

Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Bronze

Ancient Greek Apulian Red-Figure Ceramic Olpe Wine Jug, 4th Century B.C.

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H 5.25 in W 4.35 in D 5.25 in

Ancient Greek Apulian Red-Figure Ceramic Olpe Wine Jug, 4th Century B.C.

Located in London, GB

A stunning ancient Greek Apulian red-figure olpe, dating to the 4th century B.C. This delicately

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Antiquities

Materials

Pottery

Classical Ancient Greek Euphronios Pottery Vase Style Table Lamp

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H 30 in Dm 11 in

Classical Ancient Greek Euphronios Pottery Vase Style Table Lamp

Located in Forney, TX

Euphronios (c.535-470 BC), black lacquered ancient Greek red-figure (orange) pottery style vase with splashes

Category

Late 20th Century Classical Greek Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Ancient Collection of Five Roman Artefacts Glass, Ceramic, Carthage, 2nd Century

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H 1.58 in W 1.19 in D 0.79 in

Ancient Collection of Five Roman Artefacts Glass, Ceramic, Carthage, 2nd Century

Located in Sofia, BG

by these great civilisations. From Cypriot idols to Greek red-figure pottery, Etruscan gold to Roman

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Sicilian Classical Roman Antiquities

Materials

Ceramic, Glass

Brian StremickAmir (male nude), 2018

Sold

H 15 in W 11 in

Amir (male nude)

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

confluence of Islamic tile work, Mexican textiles and Greek red-figure pottery.

Category

2010s Contemporary Nude Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Color Pencil

Brian StremickMale Nude, 2018

Sold

H 15 in W 10 in D 1 in

Male Nude

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

confluence of Islamic tile work, Mexican textiles and Greek red-figure pottery.

Category

2010s Abstract Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Color Pencil

Ancient Greek Paestan Red Figure Pottery Hydria - 350 BC

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H 7.5 in Dm 6.5 in

Ancient Greek Paestan Red Figure Pottery Hydria - 350 BC

Located in London, GB

A beautiful, rare and well provenanced ancient Greek, Paestan Red-Figure Hydria (water carrying

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Greek Classical Greek Antiquities

19th Century Grand Tour style Red-Figure Greek Hydria Pottery

Sold

H 17.5 in Dm 13 in

19th Century Grand Tour style Red-Figure Greek Hydria Pottery

Located in Nashville, TN

Grand Tour Red-Figure Greek hydria terra-cotta pottery. Item rests on a flared pedestal foot rising

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Greek Classical Greek Vases

Materials

Clay

Ancient Greek Red Figure Pelike Vase, 350 BC

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H 5.75 in Dm 4 in

Ancient Greek Red Figure Pelike Vase, 350 BC

Located in London, GB

A red-figure pelike from Apulia, South Italy, dating to the 4th century BC. Of typical form, with

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Greek Vases

Materials

Pottery

Antique English Attic Red Figure Greek Vase, England, circa 1890

Sold

H 11 in W 7.5 in D 6 in

Antique English Attic Red Figure Greek Vase, England, circa 1890

Located in Houston, TX

An Attic red figure Greek vase with painted scenes on both sides and the maker's stamp on the base

Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Classical Greek Urns

Materials

Pottery

People Also Browsed

Egyptian Limestone Relief with Hieroglyphs

$15,750

H 4.73 in W 6.5 in D 3.15 in

Egyptian Limestone Relief with Hieroglyphs

Located in London, GB

This beautiful New Kingdom limestone fragment, preserving three columns of deeply carved hieroglyphs, would have once accompanied elaborate pictorial depictions on the walls of a tem...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Mounted Objects

Materials

Limestone

Ancient Egyptian Monumental Temple Sphinxes

$850,000

H 23.63 in W 15.75 in D 41.34 in

Ancient Egyptian Monumental Temple Sphinxes

Located in London, GB

These monumental limestone sphinxes, carved with the idealised visage of Pharaoh Nectanebo I (c. 379-360 BC) atop a lion’s body, are icons of ancient Egyptian culture. Depicted in th...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Mounted Objects

Materials

Limestone

Egyptian Stone Relief of Man and Wife

$255,000Sale Price|34% Off

H 11.03 in W 10.44 in D 1.58 in

Egyptian Stone Relief of Man and Wife

Located in London, GB

This painted limestone relief is an exquisite example of New Kingdom relief carving from the apogee of Egyptian artistic production. Carved in raised relief - a labour-intensive tech...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Busts

Materials

Limestone

Ancient Greek Red-Figured Owl Skyphos

$5,000

H 3.5 in W 6.75 in D 4.25 in

Ancient Greek Red-Figured Owl Skyphos

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A spirited example of the popular Athenian export, the owl skyphos. This small cup depicts an owl on either side facing right, its head turned frontally, between two sprigs of laurel...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Greek Vases

Materials

Terracotta

Ancient Egyptian Green Faience Shabti

$8,000

H 5 in W 1 in D 0.75 in

Ancient Egyptian Green Faience Shabti

Located in Los Angeles, CA

For Padiusir, this Shabti figure displays a serene countenance, with finely delineated facial features and elegant proportions. He stands mummiform with arms crossed, holding two ag...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Antiquities

Materials

Faience

Ancient Roman Marble Dionysiac Herm Bust

$18,000

H 13.75 in W 6 in D 4 in

Ancient Roman Marble Dionysiac Herm Bust

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A lively and enchanting depiction, this exquisitely rendered flat-backed Herm bust depicts the Roman Bacchus (Dionysus to the Greeks). The youthful god of wine is shown with promine...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Busts

Materials

Marble

Ancient Roman Marble Torso of Marsyas

$85,000

H 17 in W 12 in D 9 in

Ancient Roman Marble Torso of Marsyas

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This striking Roman Marble torso belongs most assuredly the Mythological Satyr Marsyas. The depiction is one that is frequently portrayed in greco-roman statuary, (originally as part...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Antiquities

Materials

Marble

Ancient Egyptian Green Faience Aegis

$35,000

H 2.75 in W 3 in D 1 in

Ancient Egyptian Green Faience Aegis

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This exquisite faience amulet is an Aegis featuring the head of Amun-Re. The god is seen here taking on the form of a ram, wearing a striated tripartite wig and sun disc fronted by ...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Antiquities

Materials

Faience

Ancient Egyptian Bronze and Gold Oxyrhynchus Fish

$160,000

H 4.25 in W 7.5 in D 2 in

Ancient Egyptian Bronze and Gold Oxyrhynchus Fish

Located in Los Angeles, CA

One of the finest known examples of the type, this superbly cast, and delicately gilded Oxyrhynchus fish is a masterpiece of the highest order. Naturalistically rendered with deeply ...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Antiquities

Materials

Bronze, Gold Leaf

Ancient Apulian Magna Graecia Bell Krater, c. 350 BC.

$9,600

H 9.75 in Dm 9.75 in

Ancient Apulian Magna Graecia Bell Krater, c. 350 BC.

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A finely crafted Ancient Apulian Magna Graecia Bell Krater, dating to c. 350 BC, used as a wine mixing bowl in classical antiquity. This red-figure pottery vessel features twin handl...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Ancient Egyptian Sandstone Relief of a Bearded Deity

$60,000

H 14 in W 17.75 in D 4.25 in

Ancient Egyptian Sandstone Relief of a Bearded Deity

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This striking image, sculpted in sunken relief of a male bearded deity, likely represents Hapi, the Nile God. The features are prominent, with boldly carved lines, sharp contours, a...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Antiquities

Materials

Sandstone

Ancient Egyptian Limestone Sculptor's Model

$35,000

H 4.75 in W 4.5 in D 2.5 in

Ancient Egyptian Limestone Sculptor's Model

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Heads of a king, like this one, became popular in the Late and Ptolemaic periods and may have been used as models for sculptors or votive offerings. In the form of a bust of a pharao...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Limestone

Ancient Egyptian Sandstone Relief

$50,000

H 8.5 in W 13 in D 3 in

Ancient Egyptian Sandstone Relief

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Sculpted in sunk relief, this superb sandstone carving features a pharaoh facing right, wearing a broad collar and either the Red Crown or Double Crown fronted by a uraeus. He prese...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Antiquities

Materials

Sandstone

Giovanni Paolo PaniniSt. Paul shaking off the Viper in the Island of Malta, c. 1735

$120,081

H 103 in W 85.8 in

St. Paul shaking off the Viper in the Island of Malta

By Giovanni Paolo Panini

Located in London, GB

Literature: cf. 'Catalogue of Paintings in the Wellington Museum Apsley House' by C.M. Kauffman, revised by Susan Jenkins, English Heritage in association with Paul Holberton publish...

Category

1730s Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Two Ancient Egyptian Alabaster Canopic Jars

$225,000

H 13.75 in Dm 8 in

Two Ancient Egyptian Alabaster Canopic Jars

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This set of two canopic jars represents unequivocal masterpieces of the type. Carved out of a beautifully rich white veined caramel alabaster, both jars are deftly executed and of r...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Antiquities

Materials

Alabaster

Ancient Egyptian Limestone Sculptor's Model

$60,000

H 10.25 in W 12 in D 2 in

Ancient Egyptian Limestone Sculptor's Model

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This superb sculptors model is carved in raised relief with the bust of a pharaoh in profile to the right. The noble face features a prominent chin and thick lips. A delicate eye-lin...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Antiquities

Materials

Limestone

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Greek Red Figure Pottery For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more in our collection of greek red figure pottery on 1stDibs. Frequently made of paper, ceramic and metal, every piece of greek red figure pottery was constructed with great care. Whether you’re looking for newer or older items, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 19th Century. Many designers have produced at least one well-made item from our selection of greek red figure pottery over the years, but those crafted by Wedgwood are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Greek Red Figure Pottery?

The average selling price for a piece of greek red figure pottery at 1stDibs is $1,750, while they’re typically $519 on the low end and $65,000 for the highest priced.

Questions About Greek Red Figure Pottery

What is the difference between black figure and red figure Greek pottery?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
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.