Terracotta bell-krater (mixing bowl)
ca. 400–380 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 19 5/8 in. (49.9 cm) diameter of mouth 22 3/8 in. (56.8 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, South Italian, Apulian · Late Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1916
Accession Number
16.140
Tags
Art Historical Context
This terracotta bell-krater, created around 400–380 BCE in Apulia, South Italy, served as a practical mixing bowl for diluting wine with water during Greek symposia and rituals. Produced during the Late Classical period, it exemplifies the vibrant ceramic tradition of Magna Graecia, where Greek colonists adapted mainland styles to local tastes. Its generous proportions—nearly 20 inches tall with a wide mouth—made it ideal for communal gatherings, underscoring wine’s central role in social and religious life. Attributed to the Sarpedon Painter, the vessel features red-figure decoration typical...