Six's technique

Lekythosin Six's technique,Cabinet des Médailles,Paris(De Ridder 493)

Six's techniqueis the modern name for a technique used byAttic black-figure vase paintersthat involves laying on figures in white or red on a black surface and incising the details so that the black shows through. It was first described by the Dutch scholarJan Sixin 1888,and was given its English name byJ. D. Beazley.

Around 530 BCE, the technique began to be used regularly for decorating the whole vase, rather than for details as in previous practice. The effect is similar tored-figurepainting.Nikosthenes,Psiax,and theDiosphos Painterwere among the early users of the technique. It remained in use until the mid-5th century, when it can be observed on a small number ofoenochoefrom theHaimon painterworkshop.

See also

• Corpus vasorum antiquorum

References

• Beth Cohen.The Colors of Clay,2006.
• C. H. Emilie Haspels,Attic Black Figure Lekythoi,1936.
• G. van Hoorn,Choes and Athesteria1951.
• Jan Six.A rare vase-technique,Journal of Hellenic Studies30,pp. 323–6.