Technique
White-ground
Period
c. 500–400 BC
Collection
734 vases
A white slip covers the vessel, allowing polychrome painting in added colours — reds, blues, yellows, greens. The closest surviving approximation to the lost art of Greek panel painting. Most common on lekythoi used as grave offerings, their ethereal beauty perfectly suited to funerary themes.
734 examples
SKYPHOS (ITALO-GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
Skyphos
SKYPHOS, FRAGMENT (ITALO-GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
Skyphos
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
KRATER (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Krater
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
SITULA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
-550 to -500
STAMNOS, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
Stamnos
HYDRIA, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
Hydria
CUP, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
Kylix
FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
SKYPHOS, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
Skyphos
FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
KRATER (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Krater
BOWL (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
AMPHORA, NECK (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Amphora
AMPHORA, NECK (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Amphora
ALABASTRON (CORINTHIAN, OUTLINE)
Alabastron
AMPHORA, BELLY (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Amphora
AMPHORA, BELLY (MYCENEAN, OUTLINE)
Amphora
OINOCHOE (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
Oinochoe
FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
SKYPHOS, FRAGMENT (EAST GREEK, OUTLINE)
Skyphos
CUP (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
Kylix
CUP (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
Kylix
CUP (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
Kylix
TANKARD (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
PITCHER (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
TANKARD (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
POMEGRANATE (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
AMPHORA, NECK (CYPRIOT, OUTLINE)
Amphora
KRATER, FRAGMENTS (CYPRIOT, MYCENAEAN STYLE, OUTLINE)
Krater
OINOCHOE (ATHENIAN GEOMETRIC, OUTLINE)
Oinochoe
KRATER, BELL (CYPRIOT, MYCENAEAN STYLE, OUTLINE)
Krater
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)