white-ground

[ hwahyt-ground, wahyt- ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or designating a style of vase painting developed in Greece from the 6th to the 4th centuries b.c., characterized chiefly by a white background of slip onto which were painted polychromatic figures.

Example Sentences

Culture ministry officials presented two works on Monday: a marble head of Athena, dated circa 200 B.C. and valued at $3 million, and a white-ground terra-cotta kylix, or drinking cup, attributed to the Villa Giulia Painter, dating to the fifth century B.C. and valued at $1.5 million.

From New York Times

The returned items also included a drinking cup called "White-Ground Kylix," "Bronze Bust of a Man," and vases, platters and other kitchenware.

From Reuters

Among the pieces seized on Friday from Mr. Steinhardt was a Greek white-ground attic lekythos — or oil vessel — from the fifth century B.C., depicting a funeral scene with the figures of a woman and a youth, according to the search warrant.

From New York Times

As a judge at this year's Cannes International Film Festival and a fashion-world favorite, Kidman has proven her style savvy in a colorful and cheerful embroidered L'Wren Scott dress, a regal black Alexander McQueen, and a white-ground floral dress by Christian Dior Couture that seemed a seamless fit for this posh seaside town.

From Seattle Times

The final assemblagelike composition of perpendicular elements of wood and metal is completely ambiguous in terms of its actual size, weight, function, orientation and vintage, although it resembles one of Irving Penn’s elegant, white-ground images.

From New York Times