Pair of terracotta plaques with glass inlays
Unknown Artist
late 4th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta, glass
Dimensions
length 5 11/16in. (14.5cm)
Classification
Terracottas
Culture & Period
Greek, South Italian · Hellenistic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Sandra Brue Gift, 1998
Accession Number
1998.210.1, .2
Tags
Art Historical Context
These exquisite terracotta plaques, adorned with vibrant glass inlays, hail from South Italian Greek culture in the 4th century BCE during the Hellenistic period. just 5 11/16 inches (14.5 cm) in length, pair likely served as decorative elements in a temple, tomb, or domestic shrine—common uses for such terracottas in the bustling Greek colonies of Magna Graecia, like Apulia. Their tags reveal lively scenes featuring human figures alongside animals, capturing the dynamic energy of Hellenistic art, which favored expressive narratives over the serene idealism of Classical Greece. Crafted from f...