Bowl
Unknown Artist
850–750 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
3 9/16in. (9.1cm) Other (mouth): 5 7/8in. (14.9cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Cypriot · Cypro-Geometric III ?
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.545
Art Historical Context
This elegant terracotta bowl hails from ancient Cyprus, dating to the Cypro-Ge III period around 850–750 BCE. Crafted from fired clay, it measures just 3 9/16 inches (9.1 cm) in height with a wide mouth of 5 7/8 inches (14.9 cm), making it a practical yet refined vessel likely used for serving food or liquids in daily life or rituals. As a product of Cypriot pottery traditions, it exemplifies the Iron Age craftsmanship of the island, a cultural crossroads blending influences from the Aegean, Levant, and local innovators. The Cypro-Geometric style marked a shift toward more standardized forms ...