Ceramics

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Ceramics

• Historical Overview

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Ancient Beginnings
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Stone Age clay bison modeled in high relief.Tuc
dAudoubert cavern in SW France 15,000 BCHigh
relief- 3D form that projects off a flat surface
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First known clay pieces were birth figures-Curves
symbolize abundance1. Venus of Willendorf-20,000
BC fertility totem-4.3 -Austria2. Fired clay
figure-7000 BC-W. Iran 2.5 3.Goddess giving
birth flanked by leopards-functional shrine

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1. Early pinch pot found in British prehistoric
grave site. Thumb marks pressed for
decoration.2. Italian pot-ritual use-holes used
for hanging

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First clay pots were believed to be derived from
the more ancient art form of basket making. Clay
was put in baskets in order to seal and
waterproof container.
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When there was a fire the basket was burned away.
A fired clay pot remained. The discovery of fired
ceramics was born.
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Early clay pots contained faux basket texture and
this is were the basket theory derived from.
Unlike a basket these new containers were leak
proof and rat proof.
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Illustration on the right shows an ancient
Egyptian grave. Notice the bowls surrounding the
figure. These containers were filled with food to
sustain the dead in the afterlife.Below are
examples of ancient grave pots.
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Bones, strings and sticks were used to create a
basket-like texture. Also different slip was
painted and scratched out to create different
patterns.
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Bowls were eventually painted with slip that
creates a pattern that is loosely based on a
basket.
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Introduction of registers. Registers continuous
horizontal bands to create a narrative or design.
Often seen in Egyptian art.
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Mesopotamian clay tablets- ( c. 3000BC )
Archaeologists believed the tablet included
proper names in pictographic form.2. Scratched
list of commodities- different types of metal
containers.3. A list of accounts involving
animals, bread and beer. CLAY WAS USED IN A
SIMILAR FUNCTION AS PAPER OR A COMPUTER.

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First ceramic fires. Brushwood and bonfires under
and over clay pots. Brushwood is added to
increase temperature of fire.
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Early Kilns- first kilns built in Egypt. Diagrams
show updraft Greek kilns. Chimney on top, fire on
the bottom and pots in the center. Door on the
side is used to remove fired pieces after they
cool.
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Ancient Greek vessels. Complex decorative
designs. Variety of functional vessels introduced
to the masses.
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Contemporary Approachs

• 3 20th century Ceramic artists

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Peter Voulkos-Single handedly pushed ceramics
away from a purely functional medium. Work was
influenced by abstract expressionist artists.
Interested in surface texture and contrast
between the fragile clay and powerful earth. Also
Voulkos was a teacher that influenced a whole
generation of ceramic artists.
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Robert Arneson- Created self portraits and
social/political artwork. Pushed ceramic art into
a conceptual and narrative direction. Also used
humor in his art to diffuse serious subject
matter.
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Marilyn Levine- Worked in a meticulous tromp
loeil style. Viewed old leather objects as
metaphors for the passage of time and scars of
life.Tromp loeil- means to fool the eye-hyper
realistic style of art.