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Document Details :

Title: Grundlagen der Chronologie spätrotfiguriger Vasen aus Athen
Author(s): LANGNER, Martin
Journal: BABESCH
Volume: 88    Date: 2013   
Pages: 127-170
DOI: 10.2143/BAB.88.0.2987079

Abstract :
It is not easy to date late red-figure vases from Athens by relaying only on drawing styles. This review of the evidence for the chronological development of the vases will argue that rather the shape is of relevance than the painting of the pots. It is remarkable, how potters were very precisely repeating particular shape models. Individuality was only expressed by variations of the foot or the mouth of the vases. Yet, the whole appearance followed the common contemporary taste. Thus, the overall shapes of the pots are generally suited to create chronological rows. These rows can be connected with the linear development of the firmly dated Panathenaean amphoras, which provides a reliable frame of reference. As the workshops have developed high and low shape variants (kraters), special forms (hydriae) and slightly differing variants for different sizes of the same shape (pelikai), the exact analysis of profile drawings is necessary to set up separate chronological rows for the variants to establish a reliable chronology. However, this article will also illustrate that we are able to identify the particular workshop by distinct decorative elements applied to their products, which might even allude to an awareness for branding.

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