17/01/2025
-depth analysis The black pottery of Etruria In terms of language, customs and cultural refinement, the Etruscans did not resemble any other people of the Italian peninsula. One of their most relevant artistic manifestations was ceramics. Much of their production, of great quality and highly appreciated in markets throughout the Mediterranean, imitated Greek models. A characteristic element of this civilization was bucchero, a type of ceramic dating back to the 7th century BC. It is an evolution of the impasto ceramic (unpurified clay) typical of the Villanovan culture and is characterized by decoration in brilliant black tones. "It was prepared with finely chopped clay and baked in the oven with a minimum of oxygen. The intense black color was obtained thanks to the chemical reaction of crushed charcoal or organic substances mixed into the clay. Two categories of bucchero can be distinguished: the "thin" one, with more delicate walls, a metallic shine and carved and engraved decoration, and the "heavy" one, thicker and less brilliant, and decorated with reliefs and baroque shapes." In the photo: "Head of a warrior Bucchero vase from Cerveteri, today it can be admired at the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, Rome. The ceramic was prepared in Cerveteri, one of the great centers of production of these pieces, and imitates the shape of a warrior wearing a Corinthian-type helmet."
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