Terracotta fragment of a column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)
Unknown Artist
460–440 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Classical
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
2011.604.2.496
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a column-krater, dating to 460–440 BCE, a glimpse into the refined world of Classical Attic. A column-krater was a wide-mouthed mixing bowl used at symposia—lively social gatherings where elite Athenian men diluted wine with water, fostering conversation, poetry, and philosophy. Its distinctive columnar handles made it both functional and elegant, standing as a centerpiece on dining tables. Crafted in Attic workshops, the heart of ancient Greek pottery production, this piece exemplifies the technical mastery of the era, with terracotta fired to a durable reddish h...