Terracotta fragment of a closed shape
Unknown Artist
first half of the 6th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Archaic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Dietrich von Bothmer, Distinguished Research Curator, Greek and Roman Art, 2011
Accession Number
2011.604.3.2752
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta fragment hails from a closed-shape vase, likely a vessel for oils, perfumes, or unguents, crafted in Attic Greece during the first half of the 6th century. Produced in the Archaic period—a time of vibrant cultural and artistic flowering in ancient Athens—this piece exemplifies the everyday artistry of the era. Though only a fragment survives, it offers a tangible link to the workshops of Attica, where potters shaped clay into functional yet beautifully formed objects. Terracotta, or fired clay, was the medium of choice for Greek vases, prized for its durability and ve...