Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
500–490 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
2011.604.1.3934
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta fragment from alix—a shallow drinking cup popular in ancient Greek symposia— a glimpse into Attic artistry around 500–490 BCE, the waning years of the Archaic period Attributed to the Thorvalds Group, a collective of skilled painters and potters, it exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Athenian workshops. These kylikes were essential for communal wine-drinking rituals, blending social bonding with philosophical discourse among elite men. Crafted from terracotta, the medium's earthy durability allowed for intricate decoration, often in black-figure or emerging red-...