The Craft of Athenian Pottery An Investigation of the Technique of Black-Figured and Red-Figured Athenian Vases

"The Craft of Athenian Pottery" by Gisela M. A. Richter is a study exploring the methods used to make ancient Greek pottery. It looks specifically at black-figure and red-figure vases from Athens, mixing new pottery knowledge with old historical finds. Richter uses what she learned from working with clay to show how the Greeks made these vases, challenging some ideas about how they were made. The beginning sets the stage by explaining why Richter is writing the book, pointing out that clay hasn't changed much, so modern potters can understand ancient methods. She walks through the careful steps needed, like getting the clay ready and using the pottery wheel, to recreate these ancient artworks. This book uses practical experiments, pictures of potters from the past, and writings from ancient times to help readers understand the skill that went into making these famous objects.