Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
490–480 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Late 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
2011.604.1.5284
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta fragment from a kylix, or shallow drinking cup, hails from Attic Greece during the Late Archaic period (490–480 BCE). Crafted by an unknown artist, it exemplifies the refined pottery tradition of ancient Athens, where kylikes were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings of men sharing wine, philosophy, and poetry. Though only a piece survives, it evokes the everyday elegance of Greek life, where such vessels blended utility with artistry. Attic potters in this era mastered wheel-throwing and firing techniques on terracotta, often employing the innovative red-f...