Arretine Roman Pottery

Arretine pottery was made in potteries located at what is today Arezzo, in central Italy, near Florence.  It reached its greatest period of popularity during the age of Augustus.  It is characterized by a uniform red shiny glaze and figurative sculptural relief decorative work, which was stamped in molds and applied to the surface before painting and firing.

 

Arrentine work combined the naturalistic Greek

In this case the figurative painting on the pottery surface was replaced with actual sculptural relief work which could be stamped in moulds and applied to the surface of the vase before painting and firing.

Arretine roman pottery provides a good example of the marriage of Greek stylistic influence with existing craftsmanship. The Greek naturalistic approach to art was applied to vase forms and colours which were closer to Italic taste and manufactured with a mould.

 

Arretine pottery was widely appreciated across the Mediterranean and was imitated in pottery centres across Italy, Asia Minor and Gaul, so much so that its production more or less shifted to Gaul.

On a more modern note: The industrial revolution of the 19th century allowed the Arretine result to be copied and mass-produced in England by potters such as Wedgewood. It remains extremely popular even today. 

Arretine Roman Pottery

Arretine pottery was made in potteries located at what is today Arezzo, in central Italy, near Florence.  It reached its greatest period of popularity during the age of Augustus.  It is characterized by a uniform red shiny glaze and figurative sculptural relief decorative work, which was stamped in molds and applied to the surface before painting and firing.

 

Arrentine work combined the naturalistic Greek

In this case the figurative painting on the pottery surface was replaced with actual sculptural relief work which could be stamped in moulds and applied to the surface of the vase before painting and firing.

Arretine roman pottery provides a good example of the marriage of Greek stylistic influence with existing craftsmanship. The Greek naturalistic approach to art was applied to vase forms and colours which were closer to Italic taste and manufactured with a mould.

 

Arretine pottery was widely appreciated across the Mediterranean and was imitated in pottery centres across Italy, Asia Minor and Gaul, so much so that its production more or less shifted to Gaul.

On a more modern note: The industrial revolution of the 19th century allowed the Arretine result to be copied and mass-produced in England by potters such as Wedgewood. It remains extremely popular even today.