Terracotta bowl fragment
Unknown Artist
ca. 25–10 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
3 3/16 × 4 7/16 × 3/8 in. (8.1 × 11.2 × 0.9 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Roman · Early Imperial, Augustan
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.194.2080
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta bowl fragment hails from the Early Imperial period of ancient Rome, specifically the Augustan era (ca 25–10 BCE), a time of profound cultural transformation under Emperor Augustus. As the first Roman emperor, Augustus ushered in the Pax Romana, a golden age of stability that fostered artistic innovation blending Greek influences with Roman realism. Measuring just over 3 inches high and 4 inches wide, this shard from a larger vase exemplifies everyday Roman pottery, likely used for serving food or liquids in households. The fragment preserves a lively scene featuring m...