Vases of Classical Time in the Art History Museum, Vienna

The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is famous not only for its paintings, but also for its Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities (Antikensammlung). However, as a consequence to the several artefacts, including Attic red figure vases and white ground lekythoi of Classical age (5th4th century), are insufficient known or even unpublished. Therefore the worth of the whole collection is partly underrated. The aim of the project is a comprehensive and detailed documentation of the vases unpublished so far, 128 vessels in total, with the exception of orte fragment all of them complete. The documenting includes a detailed description of shape, of technique of pottery, paint and glaze, of traces of antique or recent restoration measures, of wear marks and iconography; the documentation of all vases will be done by sketches and photos in total and en detail. Comparing to published vases the identification of the vase- painter and the date of production will be established. In cooperation with the Vienna University of Technology (Prip) the analyse of the used colour pigments will be done by spectral scanning, the profile drawings will be done by laser scanning; both measurements are possible without touching the surface. The publication is planned as a volume of Corpus Vasorum Antiquroum (CVA). Since 1921 more than 300 CVA- volumes of vases stored in museums all over the world have been published; they are the base for every kind of further research an Greek vases. The objective of the new Vienna volume will fill in a gap.