West Slope Ware

The name was coined in 1901 by Carl Watzinger, based on finds from the western slope of the Acropolis at Athens.

The type developed during the 4th century BC out of a pottery style with applied yellowish-orange plastic ornaments that imitated gilding.

Since Athens had lost its dominant role in the Mediterranean pottery markets by this time, it should not be assumed that the form is a particularly Attic one, but rather that Athens adopted and went along with a generally prevailing trend in pottery production.

The most common vessels shapes included pyxis, krater, hydria, amphora, pelike, jug, krateriskos, kantharos, chalice cup, kylix and lebes.

West Slope pottery underwent several stages of development until it went out of production in the second half of the 2nd century BC.