Pottery, like sculpture, reached its apex in Greece during antiquity. With the advent of Christianity, Byzantine tendencies dominated, which generally placed more emphasis on art forms such as icons than sculpture and pottery. However, the 19th century heralded a return to neoclassical forms, a trend that began with the renewed interest in the ancients that dominated during the 18th century. As such, the forms of Greek pottery found in antiquity were again popular during this time period.
The types of pottery that were popular in Europe in the 18th century include earthenware (lead-glazed and tin-glazed), stoneware, porcelain (hard and soft) and bone china. Earthenware is most often associated with Greek pottery traditions. This type, especially of the lead-glazed variety, consists of the red-colored base commonly seen in Greek pottery.
Greek pottery of the 18th century spanned the years 1700 to 1799. It consists of many of the same trends that dominated pottery across the European continent during this century.
Greek pottery of this period was often functional in design, as opposed to decorative. As in ancient Greece, pottery was often used to store items such as food and drink.
The existence of a Greek pottery tradition in the 18th century, though minor compared to the achievements of the ancients, is important in that it demonstrates the existence of an active community of artisans.