Black-glazed ware is a type of ancient Greek fine pottery. The modern term describes vessels covered with a shiny black slip. Black-glazed pottery was produced especially in the Classical and Hellenistic periods. During the reducing phase of the three-phase firing sintering of the iron-rich "clay paint" led to a shiny black glaze. Such pottery was produced both on the potter's wheel or impressed in pre-shaped matrixes. The glaze, originally in the form of a fine grained clay paint, was added on with a paintbrush on the wheel, or by dipping. In some cases, black-glazed ware was additionally decorated with white, red or gold paint. Plastic decoration, either applied by stamp, or as applied reliefs, also occurred. Within about a hundred years, during the 5th century BC, black-glazed wares rep