Gordion Cup
Encyclopedia
Gordion cups are the earliest form of Attic
Little-Master cups.
The Gordion cups do not only comprise the earliest, but also the smallest examples of Little-master cups. The cup lip is covered in black slip
and clearly distinguished from the rest of the vessel. The handle zone is decorated with a black stripe near its upper edge, and often a second one near the lower edge. The foot is similar to that of a Siana cup, but more elongated and painted with decorative stripes on the bottom. Also similar to Siana cups, the interior is painted with a circular figural image, framed by a tongue pattern. The similarity to Siana cups is hardly coincidental, as they were the direct predecessors of Little-master cups.
The Gordion cup type is named after a specimen found in the ancient city of Gordion, made by Kleitias
and Ergotimos
. As usual on this shape, their signatuires are placed straight between the fine handle palmette
s. The shape probably flourished around 560 BC.
The best-known painters of this type are Sondros, Phrynos, Sokles and Archikles.
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
Little-Master cups.
The Gordion cups do not only comprise the earliest, but also the smallest examples of Little-master cups. The cup lip is covered in black slip
Slip (ceramics)
A slip is a suspension in water of clay and/or other materials used in the production of ceramic ware. Deflocculant, such as sodium silicate, can be added to the slip to disperse the raw material particles...
and clearly distinguished from the rest of the vessel. The handle zone is decorated with a black stripe near its upper edge, and often a second one near the lower edge. The foot is similar to that of a Siana cup, but more elongated and painted with decorative stripes on the bottom. Also similar to Siana cups, the interior is painted with a circular figural image, framed by a tongue pattern. The similarity to Siana cups is hardly coincidental, as they were the direct predecessors of Little-master cups.
The Gordion cup type is named after a specimen found in the ancient city of Gordion, made by Kleitias
Kleitias
Kleitias was an ancient Athenian vase painter of the black figure style who flourished c. 570–560 BCE. Kleitias' most celebrated work today is the François Vase , which bears over two hundred figures in its six friezes...
and Ergotimos
Ergotimos
Ergotimos was a Greek potter, active in Athens, circa’’ 570-560 BC. His son Eucharios was also a potter, as was a grandson whose name is not known.The following works signed by him are known:* Berlin, Antikensammlung 3151: footless cup...
. As usual on this shape, their signatuires are placed straight between the fine handle palmette
Palmette
The palmette is a motif in decorative art which, in its most characteristic expression, resembles the fan-shaped leaves of a palm tree. It has an extremely long history, originating in Ancient Egypt with a subsequent development through the art of most of Eurasia, often in forms that bear...
s. The shape probably flourished around 560 BC.
The best-known painters of this type are Sondros, Phrynos, Sokles and Archikles.