Kerch style: towards a local branch evidenced at Apollonia Pontica?

Abstract

The first chemical results already obtained on representative finds of red-figured vases from Apollonia decorated in the Kerch style have revealed a non-Attic chemical pattern, thus clearly pointing to the fact that Athens had no monopoly in the manufacture of these somewhat “ kitsch” wares smothered in gilt and added colours. Even if most of our samples belonging to the Kerch style are falling together with other black-glazed wares into a geochemical group differing from the local one of common wares, it might well be only for technological requirements. Further lab investigations will now try to determine whether we are faced with another local group or with imports from some other Pontic centre of manufacture, Panticapeum / present-day Kerch coming a priori to mind high up among the possible candidates

Keywords

• bulgaria
• apollonia pontica
• kerch style
• 4th century bc
• red-figured greek pottery