Terracotta bell-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
ca. 410–400 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm) diameter of mouth 9 3/8 in. (23.8 cm) diameter of foot 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1956
Accession Number
56.171.49
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant terracotta bell-krater, created around 410–400 BCE in Athens during Greece’s Classical period, exemplifies the refined artistry of Attic vase painting. As a functional mixing bowl for wine and water, it would have played a central role in the symposium, the lively social gatherings of Athenian men. Its bell shape, with a wide mouth and sturdy foot, allowed for easy pouring and handling, while the terracotta medium—fired to a warm reddish hue—provided an ideal surface for the detailed red-figure decoration typical of the era. Attributed to the Kekrops Painter, the vessel reflects ...