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
2011.604.3.1748
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a kylix, or band/lip cup drinking vessel, hails from Attic Greece in the third quarter of the6th century BCE, during the vibrant Archaic period. Craft by an unknown potter-painter, kylikes like this were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men reclined, drank wine, and engaged in intellectual discourse. The shallow bowl with offset lip and handles allowed for easy sipping while minimizing spills, blending practicality with artistry. Terracotta vases were the canvas of ancient Greek storytelling, often decorated in the black-figure techniqu...