Decortype › Ceramics & Porcelain › Earthenware & Ancient Pottery

Greek vase painting

Europe tradition · 5 examples · indicative market tier: $50k–1M (high collector)

Pottery, due to its relative durability, comprises a large part of the archaeological record of ancient Greece. The shards of pots discarded or buried in the 1st millennium BC are still the best guide available to understand the customary life and mind of the ancient Greeks. There were several vessels produced locally for everyday and kitchen use, yet finer pottery from regions such as Attica was imported by other civilizations throughout the Mediterranean, such as the Etruscans in Italy. Wikipedia →

Types & examples

Red-Figure Bail Amphora (Storage Vessel): Draped Women
Red-Figure Bail Amphora (Storage Vessel): Draped Women, 330–320 BCE
Cleveland Museum of Art
Red-Figure Eye Cup: Warriors (A), Musician and Youths (B)
Red-Figure Eye Cup: Warriors (A), Musician and Youths (B), c. 520 BCE
Cleveland Museum of Art
Red-Figure Column Krater (Mixing Vessel): Komos (Revel)
Red-Figure Column Krater (Mixing Vessel): Komos (Revel), c. 470–460 BCE
Cleveland Museum of Art
Red-Figure Fish Plate: Octopi, Mullet, Bream, Shellfish
Red-Figure Fish Plate: Octopi, Mullet, Bream, Shellfish, c. 340–330 BCE
Cleveland Museum of Art
Red-Figure Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Warrior Cutting Hair
Red-Figure Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Warrior Cutting Hair, c. 480–470 BCE
Cleveland Museum of Art

Where to buy

1stDibsHigh-end antiques & design marketplaceBrowse listings → LiveAuctioneersAggregated live auctions worldwideBrowse listings → InvaluableAuction-house listings & price archiveBrowse listings → Christie'sMajor-auction results & upcoming salesBrowse listings → EtsyLiving artisans & vintage dealersBrowse listings → eBayBroad secondary market — vet sellers carefullyBrowse listings →

Each link opens a live, image-rich search for this craft on that marketplace. Listings rotate constantly; authenticate significant pieces independently — attribution quality varies widely outside museum collections.