Pottery and Textile HistoryPottery and Textile History

• Including:– Greek– Native Americans– Mayan and Aztec– African

Presented by Aliysia Flocco,

Derek Craig and Eamon O’Toole

• Including:– Greek– Native Americans– Mayan and Aztec– African

Presented by Aliysia Flocco,

Derek Craig and Eamon O’Toole

Greek PotteryGreek Pottery• Early geometrical style called “Black Dipylon”

had extensive use of black varnish with geometric bands of animals – horses, goats, and geese

• Years later, human figures appeared in work. Large funeral vases had images of warriors, chariots or a funeral scene. Elements of horses and chariots were drawn next to each other without perspective.

• Later on, mythological ideas and representations became predominant in their work.

• Black Figure Pottery developed in the 7th century. They were silhouetted figures with a great deal of detail. Animals were also represented as black figures.

• During this era for the first time artists began signing their work.

• Early geometrical style called “Black Dipylon” had extensive use of black varnish with geometric bands of animals – horses, goats, and geese

• Years later, human figures appeared in work. Large funeral vases had images of warriors, chariots or a funeral scene. Elements of horses and chariots were drawn next to each other without perspective.

• Later on, mythological ideas and representations became predominant in their work.

• Black Figure Pottery developed in the 7th century. They were silhouetted figures with a great deal of detail. Animals were also represented as black figures.

• During this era for the first time artists began signing their work.

Greek Pottery cont.Greek Pottery cont.• In 520 BC, red figure techniques

developed becoming more popular then black silhouetted figures. The figures had exaggerated gestures and somewhat awkward/uncomfortable poses. Artists started to add in details of hair and jewelry.

• The Hellenistic period happened around the 4th century. Figures of people were replaced by simpler things such as dolphins and rosettes. It was not a popular style.

• Greek vases were mainly made on a wheel. Some were handmade with coiling. Some were also constructed in parts and later put together with slip before firing them in the kiln.

• Artist started to inscribe their work.

• Greek vases were used for mixing, storage, transportation of items, and drinking/eating from.

Greek Textiles• Textiles have been used since the start of the Hellenistic

period.• Ancient Greek clothing was made from wool or linen. It was

made with rectangular pieces of cloth that was secured at the shoulder with a pin and the waist with a belt/sash. Men’s tunics were worn knee length, woman’s were worn ankle length.

Native American PotteryNative American Pottery• Can be traced back to A.D. 500, when the history of the

Hopi begins.• Hopi’s first pieces were gray with crude black

decoration.• White pottery appeared with black geometric

decorations, named Anasazi Black-on-White pottery.– Wood was used for firing technique

• Great Drought (1276 – 1299) brought changes. Anastazi influenced the pottery color (yellows and oranges) and geometric designs.– Coal became primary fuel for firing.

• The Sikyati used life-form and nature designs. – mammals, birds, reptiles, rain clouds, stars and

sun symbols.• Spanish missionaries (1628)• influenced pottery.

– Coal was replaced with sheep dung for fuel.

Native American Pottery Overview

Native American Pottery Overview

• Traditional pottery is earth-toned fired clay

• Intricate painted designs using black, red and white are typical

• Native American traditions have been passed from generation to generation making their pottery unique.– Everything is done by hand, never by

machine.

Native American TextileNative American Textile

• Dating back to1540 - Spanish war with the Navajo• Francisco Vasquez De Coronado invaded Southwest America

for riches• Earliest fragments of Navajo weaving were found in Canon Del

Muerte (Canyon of the Dead)– One complete blanket was found next to skeletons with crushed

skulls from Spanish rifles

• Dating back to1540 - Spanish war with the Navajo• Francisco Vasquez De Coronado invaded Southwest America

for riches• Earliest fragments of Navajo weaving were found in Canon Del

Muerte (Canyon of the Dead)– One complete blanket was found next to skeletons with crushed

skulls from Spanish rifles

Native American Textile continuedNative American Textile continued

• Traditionally include – Blankets, belts,

kilts, and sashed – Made from native

cotton dyed using natural sources

• Best known– Navajo Indian

blankets and rugs

• Traditionally include – Blankets, belts,

kilts, and sashed – Made from native

cotton dyed using natural sources

• Best known– Navajo Indian

blankets and rugs

Mayan and Aztec Pottery• Pre-Colombian art included Mexico, central

America, Caribbean, and South America. All the art had linear lines, and three-dimensional ceramics.

• Maya was the most advanced in culture. They practiced their hieroglyphic writing and astronomy. Mayan art focuses around incorporating natural things like rain, fertility, and agriculture.

• The art produced by the Aztec’s was very expressive, decorating skulls heads and creating statues.

• Mayan ceramics used for drinking/eating, storage, and commemoration.

Mayan and Aztec Textiles• Women’s clothing referred to as Huipil (still used in Mexico), a

loose rectangular cotton cloth with a hole in the middle. It was white with colorful cross-stripping. Clothing had great cultural meaning. They thought that clothing could transform a person.

• Aztec women wove textiles out of imported cotton. They also embroidered designs into the cloth and painted/stamped motifs using animal and vegetable dyes.

African PotteryAfrican Pottery

• Terracotta is the longest surviving of African sculptures. In the 5th century when they were first being made out of wood. Later in the 12th century they were made with metal.

• Pottery incorporated rural scenes, animals, and people. The art had an earthy quality.

• African sculptures had dramatically distorted human figures and legs and arms that were positioned in dramatic and expressive ways.

• Pottery style and design has not changed a lot over the years. Current pottery is made almost the same as it was centuries ago.

• Terracotta is the longest surviving of African sculptures. In the 5th century when they were first being made out of wood. Later in the 12th century they were made with metal.

• Pottery incorporated rural scenes, animals, and people. The art had an earthy quality.

• African sculptures had dramatically distorted human figures and legs and arms that were positioned in dramatic and expressive ways.

• Pottery style and design has not changed a lot over the years. Current pottery is made almost the same as it was centuries ago.

African TextilesAfrican Textiles• In the ancient times, hair from animals was woven to insulate and protect

homes. • Hair, along with fibers from various plants and trees, were used to create

bedding, blankets, clothing, and wall, window and door hangings.  • As textiles became more sophisticated, they were used as currency for

trading, as a form of money. • Cloth was a convenient form of money because it was used by everybody,

fairly durable and easily dividable.The width of cloth strip was usually standardized in each region of Africa. These be used to serve as the unit of value.

• In the ancient times, hair from animals was woven to insulate and protect homes.

• Hair, along with fibers from various plants and trees, were used to create bedding, blankets, clothing, and wall, window and door hangings. 

• As textiles became more sophisticated, they were used as currency for trading, as a form of money.

• Cloth was a convenient form of money because it was used by everybody, fairly durable and easily dividable.The width of cloth strip was usually standardized in each region of Africa. These be used to serve as the unit of value.

African Textiles continued

• Among the Manding, Tukolor and peoples in Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso, weaving restricted to members of a hereditary group. Weaving was believed to bring the weaver in contact with dangerous spiritual forces.

• In African society, religious and symbolic significance of weaving is explained: – “Each stage of spinning and weaving thread

was a symbolic analogy to human reproduction and resurrection - "the making of cloth symbolizes the multiplication of mankind." by a Dogon Sage

• Many of the ancient designs and weaving methods are used today and remain an important part of African lifestyles.

7SAMPLES OF AFRICAN TEXTILES• (2) Kuba cloth originated from the Democratic Republic of Congo

(also known as Zaire). This textile is tightly woven using strands from raffia palm leaves.

• (3) Batik cloth includes patterns by applying melted wax on the fabric.  A design is drawn onto the fabric. Colors are applied one top of the other to create a multi-colored effect.

• (1) Khasa are heavy woolen striped blankets woven by the Fulani of Mali.

• (4) Mud cloth originated from Mali and was once worn by hunters. • (5) Kente cloth is made by the Fante people of Ghana. Authentic

Kente cloth is typically woven in 4-inch wide strips. Kente patterns have religious, political, and even financial significance.

• (6) Korhogo cloth is hand-woven by the Senufo people of the Ivory Coast. The 5-inch strips of mud painted on the cloth to create patterns of animals, men in ceremonial dress, buildings, or geometric designs.

• (7) Manjaka cloth is woven in 7-inch wide strips that are sewn together; It’s distinguished by its intricate geometric patterns. Manjaka originated from Guinea-Bissau and has complex designs.

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Asian PotteryAsian Pottery• Can be traced back 11,000 years to the Palaeolithic era. Older

pottery had charcoal and bone mixed in it. • One of the oldest forms dating back to the Neolithic period. • Pottery from China is traditionally made in big numbers in

factories. They produce a variety of things ranging from pottery to figures of people, animals, houses, and boats.

• Japan imported porcelain from China to make their creations. Most of their work was glazed in a simple green shade. Unglazed stoneware was popular for funerary jars, storage jars, and kitchen pots.

• Kilns that helped improve their work were called “six old kilns”: Shigaraki, Tamba, Bizen, Tokoname, Echizen, and Seto.

• The first Thai Pottery can date back to the 9th century. • The ceramics began with the Khmer Empire; high quality work

in mass quantities. Most of the pottery glazed brown, wood-ash, dark jade green, or olive green (some whites, yellows, and grays found).

• Can be traced back 11,000 years to the Palaeolithic era. Older pottery had charcoal and bone mixed in it.

• One of the oldest forms dating back to the Neolithic period. • Pottery from China is traditionally made in big numbers in

factories. They produce a variety of things ranging from pottery to figures of people, animals, houses, and boats.

• Japan imported porcelain from China to make their creations. Most of their work was glazed in a simple green shade. Unglazed stoneware was popular for funerary jars, storage jars, and kitchen pots.

• Kilns that helped improve their work were called “six old kilns”: Shigaraki, Tamba, Bizen, Tokoname, Echizen, and Seto.

• The first Thai Pottery can date back to the 9th century. • The ceramics began with the Khmer Empire; high quality work

in mass quantities. Most of the pottery glazed brown, wood-ash, dark jade green, or olive green (some whites, yellows, and grays found).