Stemmed Kyathos (Drinking Cup)

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

A unique legacy of the Etruscans is the glossy black pottery known as Bucchero ware, made from the 7th century to the late 5th century B.C. Produced for both domestic and funerary uses, Bucchero ware was popular locally and imported across the Mediterranean. The signature shiny black surface was achieved by firing the pottery in a reduced-oxygen kiln, where restricted ventilation caused the iron oxide in the coarse Tuscan clay to turn black. Before firing, the clay was burnished, or polished with a smooth stone, resulting in the sheen so sought after by potters. This sheen mimicked the gleam of bronze vessels.

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