Exaleiptron

Unknown

Exaleiptron: about 500 B.C.; lid: 20th century

Terracotta

J. Paul Getty Museum

A simple pattern around the mouth provides the only decoration on this Athenian exaleiptron. Most of the pottery produced in Athens was covered in black glaze only. The absence of figural decoration allows the skill of the potting and the quality of the glaze itself to stand out. The chemical and petrological composition of Athenian clay gave a deep, rich darkness, translucence, and durability to its black glaze, characteristics that other pottery producers were not able to equal. This quality gave Athenian producers a distinct market advantage over their competitors. This vase, however, is an example of a mishap in the firing proce