Knob from the lid of a neck-amphora, joins lid of 17.230.14

Art Historical Context

This delicate terracotta knob, dating to around 540 BCE, once adorned the lid of an Attic neck-amph—a graceful two-handled jar used in ancient Greek households for storing wine or oil. Standing just over 2 inches tall, exemplifies Archaic Greek pottery from Athens, a period when black-figure technique dominated. Artisans painted figures in glossy black slip on a fired clay surface, then incised fine details to reveal the red clay beneath, creating vivid contrasts full of life and movement. The knob's miniature scene bursts with energy, featuring men, women, horses, and chariots—likely evoking...