Understanding Greek Vases: A Guide to Technical Terms (Looking at Series) (Paperback)

~ Andrew J. Clark (Author), Maya Elston (Author), Mary Louise Hart (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This latest addition to the "Looking At" series published by the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles is well organized and more comprehensive than the previous volumes in the series (others include European sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, etc.). Intended for general readers and museum visitors, it is more than just a dictionary of Greek vases. Greek ceramics scholar Clark includes a first chapter, "Looking at Ceramics," which gives background by explaining why and how Greek vases are studied. Because most of the Greek vases that remain today are broken and dirty, Maya Elston, associate curator of antiquities conservation at the Getty Museum, has also included a chapter on antique vase care and conservation. The glossaries that follow cover potters, painters, vase shapes, and such technical terms as alabastron, amphora, hyrdia, kythos, and oon. Beautiful and plentiful reproductions add richly to the scholarly text. What sets this book apart from other similar titles (e.g., any of the John Boardman texts) is the nonspecialist perspective and the addition of the conservation chapter. The book is concise yet packed with general information. Recommended for public and academic libraries.
Jennifer Moldwin Gustafson, Detroit Inst. of Arts
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

What is a pyxis? Who was the Amasis Painter? How did Greek vases get their distinctive black and orange colors? This richly illustrated book--the latest in the popular Looking At series--offers definitions and descriptions of these and many other Greek vase shapes, painters, and techniques encountered in museum exhibitions and publications on ancient Greek ceramics. Included is an essay on how to look at Greek vases and another on the conservation of ancient ceramics. These essays provide succinct explanations of the terms most frequently encountered by museum-goers. The concise definitions are divided into two sections, one on potters and painters and another on vase shapes and technical terms relating to the construction and decoration of the vases. Featuring numerous color illustrations of Greek vases, many from the Getty Museum's collection, Understanding Greek Vases is an indispensable guide for anyone wishing to obtain a greater understanding and enjoyment of Greek ceramics.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Getty Publications (August 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892365994
• ISBN-13: 978-0892365999
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #583,632 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars compact and informative, December 15, 2004

By	icebin (Mass, USA) - See all my reviews

The book begins with a quick general overview on Greek ceramics - its history, techniques, trajectory in themes, artists, mythological characters, Greek culture/society that finds itself within the art, etc - that provides the reader with a pretty good base for the number of pages it takes up. There is then a short section on the 'conservation and care of ancient Greek ceramic objects' that explains some more technical things.

After that comes the large section on Greek potters and vase painters, listed in alphabetical order and accompanied by colorful and informative images of the relevant vases. The artist's period, name, style and whatnot are explained in detail. Definitions for unfamiliar terms used in this section can be found in the next part of the book, which explains vase shapes and technical terms in normal English (also with nice images). Thus through the cross-referencing, most of the book's content can be understood without much trouble. At the end is a chart of vase shapes, which is useful because you can compare them without having to flip a single page.

This book is excellent for purposes of quick reference. I would say that most people would not read it like they would a novel, but if you have any interest in Greek vase paintings, this is an excellent book to have.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding Greek Vases, August 1, 2004

By	Michael Gunther (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Understanding Greek Vases, published by the Getty Museum, is a compact reference guide that provides the essential background (painters, styles, terminology) needed to study and appreciate ancient Greek vases.

The major part of the book consists of short (half-page), encyclopedia-style, entries for Athenian potters, vase-painters, ceramic styles, and other essential terminology. Coverage, although limited to Athenian pottery, is broad and expert, ranging from "bilingual vases" to "Six's technique." Entries are generously illustrated, mostly in color, by important examples (including many "name vases") from museum collections in the U.S. and abroad.

What really sets this book apart is that the individual entries are so extensively cross-referenced, that they look and feel more like a hypertext-linked web site than a conventional book. For example, if you look up the entry for the "Brygos Painter," you'll get cross-references in the text to three other Cup-painters, to Cup-painting itself, to the Pioneers, to Workshops, to Attribution, to Kylix, and to seven illustrations.

This is an amazingly effective reference, one that I will use often at home, and take with me whenever I go to look at Greek vases in a museum. Tip: don't plan to read it cover-to-cover like an ordinary book. Begin with some topic that interests you, and follow the cross-references as you would with a Web page.