5 Clay Crafting, Hand Modeling: A Coroplastic Perspective. Case-Studies from Sicily and Magna Graecia
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Valeria Meirano
Abstract
Ancient clay handicraft has been extensively investigated in recent decades, and has also benefited significantly from modern multidisciplinary approaches that have considerably improved our knowledge of ancient technology, craftspeople apprenticeship, savoir-faire, and workshop organization. With regard to terracotta figurines and related artifacts, molding techniques and their processes (from prototypes to generations) have been the subject of important studies, whereas hand modeling has received much less attention in the research on ancient technology. This is probably due to its apparent simplicity and presumed association with early stages of terracotta crafting and/or less technologically advanced production contexts. On the contrary, hand modeling is a long-lasting technique: thanks to its versatility, it enabled craftspeople to combine a variety of forming methods and to produce composite artifacts, made up of hand-modeled, moldmade, and wheel-made parts. Focusing on some case-studies from Western Greece (handmade figurines in eastern Sicily and terracotta cave-nymphaeum models at Locri Epizephyrii), this paper aims to show the wide range of techniques used by coroplasts in clay manipulation and assembly strategies, and also addresses how the adoption of hand modeling, along with iconographic and typological choices, may reflect regional trends and specific, local market demands related to ritual necessities.
Abstract
Ancient clay handicraft has been extensively investigated in recent decades, and has also benefited significantly from modern multidisciplinary approaches that have considerably improved our knowledge of ancient technology, craftspeople apprenticeship, savoir-faire, and workshop organization. With regard to terracotta figurines and related artifacts, molding techniques and their processes (from prototypes to generations) have been the subject of important studies, whereas hand modeling has received much less attention in the research on ancient technology. This is probably due to its apparent simplicity and presumed association with early stages of terracotta crafting and/or less technologically advanced production contexts. On the contrary, hand modeling is a long-lasting technique: thanks to its versatility, it enabled craftspeople to combine a variety of forming methods and to produce composite artifacts, made up of hand-modeled, moldmade, and wheel-made parts. Focusing on some case-studies from Western Greece (handmade figurines in eastern Sicily and terracotta cave-nymphaeum models at Locri Epizephyrii), this paper aims to show the wide range of techniques used by coroplasts in clay manipulation and assembly strategies, and also addresses how the adoption of hand modeling, along with iconographic and typological choices, may reflect regional trends and specific, local market demands related to ritual necessities.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgements V
- Editorial Board VI
- Contents VII
-
Introduction
- 1 The A.G.A.T.H.O.C.L.E.S. Project and Beyond: Archaeology of Gesture and Material Consciousness in Ceramic Studies 1
-
Section I: The Shapes of Clay: Manufacturing and Local Traditions
- 2 What Makes Aeginetan Cooking Pots So Special? Technological Choices in Ancient Aegina’s Pottery Production 13
- 3 Production Relationships between Attic Black-glazed and Figured Pottery 25
- 4 Potters in South Italian Red-Figured Workshops: An Overview 35
- 5 Clay Crafting, Hand Modeling: A Coroplastic Perspective. Case-Studies from Sicily and Magna Graecia 49
- 6 The Manufacture of “Thickened-edge” Roof Tiles between Unintentional Traces and Intentional Marks: The Case of the Hellenistic-Roman Temple in Agrigento 69
- 7 Teanum Ware Pottery from Loc. Cappella Marcella (Castrocielo, Frosinone) 79
-
Section II: Populating the Ancient Pottery Industry
- 8 Timing Euxitheos and Euphronios: Energetics and the Scale of Production in the Athenian Potters’ Quarters 91
- 9 Reconstructing the Scale of Athenian Vase-Painting Workshops 111
- 10 Potters’ Tools at the Kerameikos of Selinous 125
- 11 Pottery Production in Pompeii, Step by Step: From Excavations to Experimental Archaeology 133
- 12 Republican Kilns at Pollentia-Urbs Salvia: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Study of a Local Ceramic Production 147
-
Section III: Workshop Recipies and Craft Production Systems: Technologies Magnified
- 13 Magnific Magnification at Locri Epizephyrii: An Insight into the Surface of Western Red-figured Vases 157
- 14 Examining the Red and Black Surfaces of Apulian Red-figured Pottery: Raw Materials and Technological Features 173
- 15 Reconstructing Pottery Production in Archaic Rome and Latium: Integrating Traditional Approach and Archaeometry 183
- 16 Black-glazed Pottery from Locri Epizephyrii: New Evidence from the Technological Study of the Local Hellenistic Production 193
- 17 Roof Tiles with the ΣΩΣΗΝΟΣ Stamp: Calabrian Production in Sicily 199
- 18 Preliminary Observations on the Interdisciplinary Project of Roman Amphorae from the Territory of Ostia 207
- 19 A True Melting Pot: The Production of Cooking Ware at Fregellae, Southern Lazio (Italy), between the 4th and the 2nd Centuries B.C. 213
-
Section IV: From Invisible to Visible: Artisanal Gestures, Ontologies, and Ceramic Networks
- 20 From Micro to Macro and Vice Versa: Technology Studies and Network Analysis on Red-figured Vase Production between Sicily and Campania 223
- 21 The Craft of Centuripe Vases: Techniques, Colors, Patterns 241
- 22 Kerameikos.org and Digital Accessibility for Ancient Greek Vases 255
- 23 New Perspectives in the Study of Western Greek Amphorae 269
- 24 Economic Principles in the Roman Economy: Modelling Mass Ceramic Production and Trade 285
- 25 Looking for the Lost Decoration of an Apulian Volute Krater by the Painter of Sèvres 1 303
-
Section V: Craftspeople’s Mobility and Knowledge Transfer: Distribution and Statistics
- 26 Technology Transfer and Mobility During the Period of Greek Migrations to Italy (8th to 6th Centuries B.C.): Insights from Coarse ware Pottery 313
- 27 Regional Markets and Distribution Patterns of Laconian Pottery in Crete and Beyond: The Aeginetan Hypothesis (6th–5th Centuries B.C.) 327
- 28 Consumers and Vases in Early South Italian Vase-Painting 347
- 29 Hybridity and Exchange Models in Campania: The Case of Ionian Cups from Ancient Cumae 357
- 30 East Greek Inspirations on Attic Black-figured Pottery: The Implications for Clients and Trade Networks 365
-
Epilogue
- 31 Greek and Roman Ceramic Producers: Operational Knowledge and Networked Mobilities 373
- List of Contributors 381
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgements V
- Editorial Board VI
- Contents VII
-
Introduction
- 1 The A.G.A.T.H.O.C.L.E.S. Project and Beyond: Archaeology of Gesture and Material Consciousness in Ceramic Studies 1
-
Section I: The Shapes of Clay: Manufacturing and Local Traditions
- 2 What Makes Aeginetan Cooking Pots So Special? Technological Choices in Ancient Aegina’s Pottery Production 13
- 3 Production Relationships between Attic Black-glazed and Figured Pottery 25
- 4 Potters in South Italian Red-Figured Workshops: An Overview 35
- 5 Clay Crafting, Hand Modeling: A Coroplastic Perspective. Case-Studies from Sicily and Magna Graecia 49
- 6 The Manufacture of “Thickened-edge” Roof Tiles between Unintentional Traces and Intentional Marks: The Case of the Hellenistic-Roman Temple in Agrigento 69
- 7 Teanum Ware Pottery from Loc. Cappella Marcella (Castrocielo, Frosinone) 79
-
Section II: Populating the Ancient Pottery Industry
- 8 Timing Euxitheos and Euphronios: Energetics and the Scale of Production in the Athenian Potters’ Quarters 91
- 9 Reconstructing the Scale of Athenian Vase-Painting Workshops 111
- 10 Potters’ Tools at the Kerameikos of Selinous 125
- 11 Pottery Production in Pompeii, Step by Step: From Excavations to Experimental Archaeology 133
- 12 Republican Kilns at Pollentia-Urbs Salvia: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Study of a Local Ceramic Production 147
-
Section III: Workshop Recipies and Craft Production Systems: Technologies Magnified
- 13 Magnific Magnification at Locri Epizephyrii: An Insight into the Surface of Western Red-figured Vases 157
- 14 Examining the Red and Black Surfaces of Apulian Red-figured Pottery: Raw Materials and Technological Features 173
- 15 Reconstructing Pottery Production in Archaic Rome and Latium: Integrating Traditional Approach and Archaeometry 183
- 16 Black-glazed Pottery from Locri Epizephyrii: New Evidence from the Technological Study of the Local Hellenistic Production 193
- 17 Roof Tiles with the ΣΩΣΗΝΟΣ Stamp: Calabrian Production in Sicily 199
- 18 Preliminary Observations on the Interdisciplinary Project of Roman Amphorae from the Territory of Ostia 207
- 19 A True Melting Pot: The Production of Cooking Ware at Fregellae, Southern Lazio (Italy), between the 4th and the 2nd Centuries B.C. 213
-
Section IV: From Invisible to Visible: Artisanal Gestures, Ontologies, and Ceramic Networks
- 20 From Micro to Macro and Vice Versa: Technology Studies and Network Analysis on Red-figured Vase Production between Sicily and Campania 223
- 21 The Craft of Centuripe Vases: Techniques, Colors, Patterns 241
- 22 Kerameikos.org and Digital Accessibility for Ancient Greek Vases 255
- 23 New Perspectives in the Study of Western Greek Amphorae 269
- 24 Economic Principles in the Roman Economy: Modelling Mass Ceramic Production and Trade 285
- 25 Looking for the Lost Decoration of an Apulian Volute Krater by the Painter of Sèvres 1 303
-
Section V: Craftspeople’s Mobility and Knowledge Transfer: Distribution and Statistics
- 26 Technology Transfer and Mobility During the Period of Greek Migrations to Italy (8th to 6th Centuries B.C.): Insights from Coarse ware Pottery 313
- 27 Regional Markets and Distribution Patterns of Laconian Pottery in Crete and Beyond: The Aeginetan Hypothesis (6th–5th Centuries B.C.) 327
- 28 Consumers and Vases in Early South Italian Vase-Painting 347
- 29 Hybridity and Exchange Models in Campania: The Case of Ionian Cups from Ancient Cumae 357
- 30 East Greek Inspirations on Attic Black-figured Pottery: The Implications for Clients and Trade Networks 365
-
Epilogue
- 31 Greek and Roman Ceramic Producers: Operational Knowledge and Networked Mobilities 373
- List of Contributors 381