Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
480–470 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Early 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
2011.604.1.5091
Art Historical Context
This exquisite terracotta fragment from a kylix, or shallow drinking cup, dates to 480–470 BCE and hails from Attic Greece during the Early Classical period. Attributed to the Brise Painter—an anonymous master of red-figure pottery named after his depiction of the mythical figure Briseis—it showcases the refined artistry of Athens at the dawn of its golden age. Though only a fragment survives, it evokes the elegance of symposia, intimate banquets where elite men reclined, sipped wine, and engaged in philosophical discourse. Red-figure technique, perfected by Attic potters, revolutionized vase...