Terracotta amphora (jar)
ca. 540–530 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 13 3/4 in. (35 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Etruscan · Archaic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.11.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant terracotta amphora, crafted by the Ivy Leaf Group around 540–530 BCE, exemplifies the vibrant artistry of Archaic Etruscan culture. Standing at 13 3/4 inches (35 cm) tall, this two-handled storage jar reflects the Etruscans' deep admiration for Greek pottery traditions, which they adapted with their own flair. Produced in workshops in central Italy, such vases were essential for everyday use—storing wine, oil, or grains—while serving as canvases for storytelling through decoration. The Ivy Leaf Group, named for their signature repeating ivy leaf motifs, was renowned for black-figu...