These elegant vases started being produced in Apulia in South Italy around 370 BCE, in tandem with the local version of the red-figure style. They are named after the ancient city of Gnathia (now Egnazia).
Greeks had established colonies in the coastal areas of southern Italy back in the 8th century BCE, hence the area being named Magna Graecia in Latin: 'Great Greece'. These colonies became wealthy hubs of Greek culture, art, and philosophy, and in turn greatly influenced the Roman world.
Unlike black-figure and red-figure pottery, Gnathia vases are already glazed, and the different paints are then applied directly onto the vase. Internal details could also be incised.
Initially, a broad palette of paints, including white, yellow, orange, red, brown, green and variations thereof, was used, but after 330 BCE white paint was favoured. Motifs included tendrils of vine, ivy, or laurel, waves or other repetitive ornamental decoration. The lower part of the vases might often be ribbed.
There was brisk trade of South Italian Gnathia vases across the Mediterranean and Black Sea areas.
