Replica's Vases

Replica store has a fine selection of reproduced ancient Greek Attic (Athenian-produced) vases dating from the middle Archaic period (ca. 580-535 B.C.) to the early classical period (ca. 470 B.C.). The Replica's collection has examples from three main styles of vase painting. Black-figure vases have designs in black silhouette against the natural red clay background. Red-figure vases have the designs and figures left in the natural red color while the background is black. The black color is achieved through the use of a slip, which is a very fine clay that turns black when the vase was fired. White-ground is similar to black-figure in that the figures are also in black silhouette with the details incised. However the background is covered with a white slip rather than left naturally red. On later white ground vases figures and scenes were added in tempera colors that outlined the decoration and figures. This paint was applied after firing.