Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How were pre-Mycenaean Trojan metal vases made and decorated?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
metalwork
Warrior and attendants plaque, brass relief sculpture by Edo artists in the court of the kingdom of Benin (now Nigeria), 16th–17th century; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
Pre-Mycenaean Trojan metal vases, often associated with findings such as Priam’s Treasure, are characterized by bold, simple forms. Their construction and decoration involved several specific techniques:1
- Forming: Many of these vessels were wrought from single sheets of metal.1
- Handles: A signature feature is the heavy, rolled loop handle, which was typically attached to the body of the vessel through soldering or riveting.1
- Bases: Bases varied in design; while some were round or pointed, others were fitted with separate collars or, more commonly, slightly cupped to create a low ring foot.1
- Decoration: Most vases were left without ornament, though some featured light fluting.1
While the vases themselves were often plain, Anatolian metalsmiths of the Early Bronze Age were capable of sophisticated techniques—including casting, hammering, repoussé, soldering, granulation, and filigree—which were applied to other luxury objects and ornaments found in the region.2