A form of silicate that is found in great abundance throughout Europe. It is white and can be scratched with the nail. Alabaster was used to craft anything from vases to perfume boxes.

Alabaster

A form of silicate that is found in great abundance throughout Europe. It is white and can be scratched…

"Greek Amphora, Late Style." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Amphora

"Greek Amphora, Late Style." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Pottery from the Bronze Age. Not drawn to scale.

Bronze Age Pottery

Pottery from the Bronze Age. Not drawn to scale.

An illustration of a cup designed by Euphronios, an ancient Greek vase painter and potter, active in Athens in the late 6th and early 5th centuries BC.

Cup

An illustration of a cup designed by Euphronios, an ancient Greek vase painter and potter, active in…

Deep Dish, by Giorgio.

Deep Dish

Deep Dish, by Giorgio.

Successive Stages of Earthenware Vessel on the Potter's Wheel.

Successive Stages of Earthenware Vessel

Successive Stages of Earthenware Vessel on the Potter's Wheel.

Etruscan vases, more a product of Greece than Etrusca.

Etruscan Vases

Etruscan vases, more a product of Greece than Etrusca.

"Fictile vase, from Athens. Design in black, on drab ground." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Fictile Vase

"Fictile vase, from Athens. Design in black, on drab ground." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Pottery is the ceramic ware made by potters. Major types of pottery include earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. The places where such wares are made are called potteries. Pottery is one of the oldest human technologies and art-forms, and remains a major industry today. Ceramic art covers the art of pottery, whether in items made for use or purely for decoration.

Plant Holder

Pottery is the ceramic ware made by potters. Major types of pottery include earthenware, stoneware,…

Neolithic age hut urns. The first drawing probably representing a lake dwelling. Not drawn to scale.

Neolithic Age Hut Urns

Neolithic age hut urns. The first drawing probably representing a lake dwelling. Not drawn to scale.

"Greek Hydra, Good Style." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Hydra

"Greek Hydra, Good Style." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

A hydria is a type of Greek pottery used for carrying water. The hydria has three handles. Two horizontal handles on either side of the body of the pot were used for lifting and carrying the pot. The third handle, a vertical one, located in the center of the other two handles, was used when pouring water. This water vessel can be found in both the red and black figure pottery styles. They often depicted scenes of Greek mythology, that reflected moral and social obligations.

Hydria

A hydria is a type of Greek pottery used for carrying water. The hydria has three handles. Two horizontal…

An illustration of a "jar of Castor ware with reliefs of a stag pursued by a hound, executed in semi-fluid slip." (Britannica, 1910)

Jar

An illustration of a "jar of Castor ware with reliefs of a stag pursued by a hound, executed in semi-fluid…

This jug is a container for liquid. It has a narrow opening from which to pour or drink, featuring a hand from which to hold.

Top and Side View of a Jug

This jug is a container for liquid. It has a narrow opening from which to pour or drink, featuring a…

"Greek Lecythus, Good Style. Patera, Late Style." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Lecythus

"Greek Lecythus, Good Style. Patera, Late Style." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical,…

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical,…

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical,…

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical,…

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical,…

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical,…

This Greek Lekythos is painted in black and white. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos is painted in black and white. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the…

This Greek Lekythos has an attic style. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos has an attic style. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long…

This Greek Lekythos has an attic style. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos has an attic style. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long…

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical,…

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical,…

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos is made of red clay and painted in black. The form is elongated and cylindrical,…

This Greek Lekythos is painted in black and white. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the neck is long with a shoulder. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos is painted in black and white. The form is elongated and cylindrical, while the…

This Greek Lekythos has an elongated and cylindrical form with a long neck. Its a type of Greek pottery used in the toilet to store oils or in funeral rites to be placed with the deceased in the grave.

Greek Lekythos

This Greek Lekythos has an elongated and cylindrical form with a long neck. Its a type of Greek pottery…

The Greek hydria link border is a design found on the outside of a Greek pottery used for carrying water. It is a scroll design of leaves connected like a chain.

Greek Hydria Link Border

The Greek hydria link border is a design found on the outside of a Greek pottery used for carrying water.…

An illustration of a large Minoan vase.

Minoan Pottery

An illustration of a large Minoan vase.

"Staffordshire Minton." — Chambers, 1881

Minton

"Staffordshire Minton." — Chambers, 1881

Palissy Dish, by La Belle Jardiniere.

Palissy Dish

Palissy Dish, by La Belle Jardiniere.

Panathenaic amphorae were the large ceramic vessels that contained the oil (some 10 gallons, and 60-70 cms high) given as prizes in the Panathenaic Games. This olive oil came from the sacred grove of Athena at Akademia, the amphorae which held it had the distinctive form of tight handles, narrow neck and feet and decorated in a standard form using the black figure technique.

Panathenaic amphorae

Panathenaic amphorae were the large ceramic vessels that contained the oil (some 10 gallons, and 60-70…

An illustration of two forms of Italian potter's wheels.

Pottery Wheels

An illustration of two forms of Italian potter's wheels.

Two types of indian pottery

Indian Pottery

Two types of indian pottery

Maiolica designates Italian tin-glazed pottery dating from the Renaissance.The name is thought to come from the medieval Italian word for Majorca, an island on the route for ships bringing Hispano-Moresque wares from Valencia to Italy. Moorish potters from Majorca are reputed to have worked in Sicily and it has been suggested that their wares reached the Italian mainland from Caltagirone.

Maiolica Pottery

Maiolica designates Italian tin-glazed pottery dating from the Renaissance. The name is thought to come…

Neolithic age pottery from lake dwelling. Not drawn to scale.

Neolithic Age Pottery

Neolithic age pottery from lake dwelling. Not drawn to scale.

Peruvian pottery.

Peruvian Pottery

Peruvian pottery.

A vase used for cooling wine.

Psykter

A vase used for cooling wine.

A shovel leans against some ancient pottery, perhaps representing an archaeological dig.

Shovel and Artifacts

A shovel leans against some ancient pottery, perhaps representing an archaeological dig.

"Tyg with two handles, 14th century." — Chambers, 1881

Tyg

"Tyg with two handles, 14th century." — Chambers, 1881

"Tyg of Staffordshire ware." — Chambers, 1881

Tyg

"Tyg of Staffordshire ware." — Chambers, 1881

Vase found in the areas of the mound-builders.

Vase

Vase found in the areas of the mound-builders.

Vase found in the areas of the mound-builders.

Vase

Vase found in the areas of the mound-builders.

A greek vase decorated in Corinthian style.

Corinthian Vase

A greek vase decorated in Corinthian style.

Peruvian drinking vessel.

Vessel

Peruvian drinking vessel.

Vases and other pottery made by the ancient Greeks.

Classic Vessels

Vases and other pottery made by the ancient Greeks.

A vine border with a piece of pottery.

Vine Border

A vine border with a piece of pottery.

The water organ or hydraulic organ (early types are sometimes called hydraulis, hydraulos, hydraulus or hydraula) is a type of automatic pipe organ blown by air, where the power source pushing the air is derived by water from a natural source (e.g. by a waterfall) or by a manual pump. Consequently, the water organ lacks a bellows, blower, or compressor. In addition to being the source of power to push air through the organ pipes, the water is also used as a source of power to drive a mechanism similar to that of the Barrel organ, which has a pinned barrel that contains a specific song to be played.

Water Organ

The water organ or hydraulic organ (early types are sometimes called hydraulis, hydraulos, hydraulus…

A pottery model of the water organ. The water organ or hydraulic organ (early types are sometimes called hydraulis, hydraulos, hydraulus or hydraula) is a type of automatic pipe organ blown by air, where the power source pushing the air is derived by water from a natural source (e.g. by a waterfall) or by a manual pump. Consequently, the water organ lacks a bellows, blower, or compressor. In addition to being the source of power to push air through the organ pipes, the water is also used as a source of power to drive a mechanism similar to that of the Barrel organ, which has a pinned barrel that contains a specific song to be played.

Pottery Model of the Water Organ

A pottery model of the water organ. The water organ or hydraulic organ (early types are sometimes called…

A pottery model of the water organ. The water organ or hydraulic organ (early types are sometimes called hydraulis, hydraulos, hydraulus or hydraula) is a type of automatic pipe organ blown by air, where the power source pushing the air is derived by water from a natural source (e.g. by a waterfall) or by a manual pump. Consequently, the water organ lacks a bellows, blower, or compressor. In addition to being the source of power to push air through the organ pipes, the water is also used as a source of power to drive a mechanism similar to that of the Barrel organ, which has a pinned barrel that contains a specific song to be played.

Pottery Model of the Water Organ

A pottery model of the water organ. The water organ or hydraulic organ (early types are sometimes called…

Potter designs a jar with the White House turned upside down and the United Mexico of America at the bottom.

White House Turned Upside Down

Potter designs a jar with the White House turned upside down and the United Mexico of America at the…

An illustration of a Brazilian woman crouching in front of small stand with a bowl atop.

Woman with Pottery

An illustration of a Brazilian woman crouching in front of small stand with a bowl atop.