The surface decoration of the painted pottery provides various information about the technological styles and choices of potters. These choices reflect a certain technique employed in the making of these potteries. 

The surface microstructure of the samples presented here shows a layer of colouring agent applied on the surface of the pottery.  Take a look at these images to see the difference in their thickness and bond to the surfaces. This thick layer is called a slip.

Potters add colouring agents to clay and mixed them with liquids to be able to wash or dip the pottery in that mix to colour the surface of their choice. Slip recipes vary depending on the desired outcome of the final product. The choices of the potters for the slipping recipe that enables this desired final look can also depend on the firing atmospheres they use to fire pottery.

Questions to think about,