Their modern name is derived from the sanctuary of the Kabiria near Thebes, where the majority of such vases were found.
The shapes painted in the style are usually skyphoi, and sometimes hemispherical kantharoi with vertical ring handles.
Some shapes, such as lebes are totally absent, other, such as kylikes and pyxidai occur rarely.
The type's main characteristic is the humorous and exaggerated style of painting, although it is not present on all the vases, as more serious depictions of cult life also occur.
Scholars recognise the hands of several individual artists, including the Mystai Painter.