Terracotta alabastron (perfume vase) in the form of a woman holding a dove
Unknown Artist
mid-6th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
10 9/16 × 2 3/4 × 3 1/16 in. (26.8 × 7 × 7.8 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
East Greek · Archaic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1930
Accession Number
30.11.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming terracotta alabastron, or perfume vase, from East Greece in the mid-6th century BCE, takes the playful form of a standing woman gently cradling a dove. Crafted during the Archaic period—a time when Greek art blossomed with lively, stylized figures—this vessel exemplifies the region's innovative pottery traditions. Standing just over 10 inches tall, its compact size made it ideal for holding scented oils or perfumes, essential luxuries in ancient daily rituals, especially for women. The unknown artisan skillfully molded the terracotta to capture the woman's graceful pose and the ...