Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
470–450 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
2011.604.1.104
Art Historical Context
This exquisite terracotta fragment from a kylix, or shallow drinking cup, hails from Attic Greece during the Classical period (470–450 BCE). Crafted by the Splanchnopt Painter, a master of red-figure vase painting, it exemplifies the refined artistry of ancient Athens. Kylikes like this were essential to symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men reclined, drank wine, and engaged in philosophical discourse, making such vessels both functional and symbolic of cultured leisure. The red-figure technique, perfected by Attic potters, allowed for intricate details: artists painted black glos...