Terracotta bowl
Unknown Artist
ca. 1600–1450 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm) diameter 3 3/16 in. (8.1 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Cypriot · Late Cypriot I
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.1115
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta bowl, crafted around 1600–1450 BCE during Cyprus's Late Cypriot I period offers a glimpse into the Bronze Age world of the eastern Mediterranean. Measuring just 2¼ inches high and 3⅛ inches in diameter, its modest scale suggests it was likely used for everyday purposes—perhaps serving food, liquids, or even in rituals common to Cypriot households. As a product of an unknown artisan, it exemplifies the island's vibrant pottery tradition, where terracotta vessels were essential for storage, trade, and daily life. Terracotta, or fired clay, was prized for its durability ...