ind to an unfinished cup, probably for this
purpose; the cup, being shown in red on the vase, has evidently not
been varnished. Many vases are varnished black all over the exterior
(whether decorated with designs or not) with the exception of the foot
and lip.

The process of baking was regarded as one of the most critical in the
potter's art. It was not indeed universal, as we read of sun-dried
vessels for utilitarian purposes, but all the vases that have come
down to us have been baked. The amount of heat required was regulated
by the character of the ware, but was not very high. Many examples
exist of discoloured vases which have been subjected to too much or
too little heat, the varnish having acquired a greenish or reddish
hue. Or again the red gloss is sometimes turned to an ashen-grey
colour, the black remaining unimpaired. Other accidents were liable to
occur in the baking, such as cracking under too great heat, or the
damaging of the shape by vases knocking against one another and so
being dented in or crushed. The form of the oven was of the simplest
(fig. 17). No furnaces have been found in Greece, and only one or two
in Italy, but we have a variety of evidence from vase-paintings. They
were fed by fires from beneath, and the vases were inserted with a
long shovel. They were heated with charcoal or wood fuel, and there
are representations of men poking or raking the fires with
long-handled implements. One vase-painting gives a bird's-eye view, in
horizontal section, of the interior of an oven full of jugs of various
forms. Others have more complete presentations of potteries, with men
engaged in the different processes of vase manufacture, modelling,
painting or supplying the kilns with newly-made wares.

[Illustration: FIG. 17.--Model of Kiln found in Essex.]

_The Painting of Vases_.--We may distinguish three principal classes
of painted pottery, of Which two admit of subdivision.

1. Primitive Greek vases with simple painted ornaments, chiefly
linear and geometrical, laid directly on the clay with the brush.
The colour employed is usually a yellowish or brownish red passing
into black. The execution varies, but is often extremely coarse.

2. Greek vases painted with figures. These may be subdivided as
follows:--

(a) Vases with figures in shining black on a red glossy ground.

(b) Vases with figures left in the gloss