Terracotta askos (flask with a spout and handle over the top)

Art Historical Context

This charming terracotta askos, in the 3rd BCE, hails from the Daunian and Canosan of ancient Apulia in southern Italy. During the Hellenistic period, these Native Italian peoples flourished under Greek influences, producing vibrant pottery that blended local traditions with Mediterranean motifs. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1970, this vessel now graces the Greek and Roman Art department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art standing at 8 9/16 inches tall with a 9 3/8-inch diameter. Shaped as a flask with a distinctive spout and arched handle arching over the top, the askos was designed fo...