Terracotta fragment of a kylix: Band or lip cup (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
third quarter 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
2011.604.3.1694
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a kylix—a shallow, two-handled drinking cup—offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of Archaic Attic Greece during the third quarter of 6th century BCEca. 550–525 BCE). Produced in Athens, the heart of Greek pottery innovation, kylikes were essential forposia, the social parties where elite men gathered to philosophize, recite poetry, and bond. As a "band" or "lip" cup, it likely featured a distinctive offset lip or narrow decorative bands, hallmarks of early Attic vase shapes that balanced elegance with functionality. Crafted in terracotta using techniques like ...