Juglet
Unknown Artist
750–600 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
5in. (12.7cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Cypriot · Cypro-Archaic I
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.708
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta juglet, dating to the Cypro-Archaic I period (–600 BCE), hails from ancient Cyprus—a vibrant island culture at the crossroads of Greek,ician, and Near Eastern influences. Standing just 5 inches (12.7 cm) tall, these small vases were everyday marvels, likely used to hold precious oils, perfumes, or unguents. Crafted from fired clay on a potter's wheel, the juglet's simple form exemplifies Cypriot pottery traditions, prized for their functionality and widespread trade across the Mediterranean. Artistically, it reflects the Cypro-Archaic emphasis on practical beauty, wit...