Lekythos 480 BC

This lekythos vase was made by the Haimon Group, using a potter’s wheel and a fine clay slip to achieve its elegant decoration. The making of this vase involved precise steps: first shaping the clay, then painting the figures in black slip. The firing process was critical; controlling the kiln's atmosphere allowed the potter to create the black gloss and the red-orange of the clay itself. Notice the geometric patterns above the figures, typical of the period. The careful rendering of drapery and the figures suggests a workshop specializing in this kind of vessel, likely catering to a market for grave goods. Consider the labour involved in each stage, from digging and preparing the clay to the final firing. Appreciating the time and skill invested helps us recognize that even everyday objects like this lekythos were once valuable expressions of craft and cultural values.