Materials & Techniques

Cast pieces were made by pouring molten metal into a negative mold to produce an object in the round. These molds may have been hand carved or made of baked clay formed around a model. 

Terracotta is a ruddy brown, hard-baked clay used for construction (roof tiles, cornices), sculpture, or pottery. It is molded or shaped by hand and then dried for a period of time before being baked or fired at high temperatures. Though often left unglazed, terracotta objects can be glazed prior to firing or painted once dry.

A method for decorating clay objects that was developed by the ancient Athenians, the red-figure Greek vase painting technique appears in red, and the background in black. The background is painted on and allowed to dry while all linear detail in the decoration is made by painting on lines.

Engravings are produced by carving a plate with a burin, a metal tool with a sharp point.

Black-figure vase painting is a method of decorating clay objects that was developed by the ceramic artisans of the ancient Greek city of Corinth.  The decoration appears in black and the background in red. The decoration is painted on and allowed to dry. All linear detail in the decoration is made by cutting through the black areas and allowing the red color of the clay to show through.