Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
490–480 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
2 1/8 × 14 3/4 × 13 in. (5.4 × 37.5 × 33 cm)
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
2011.604.1.6566a, b
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment once formed part of a kylix, the shallow, two-handled drinking cup central to ancient Greek symposia. Created in Athens between 490 and 480 BCE during the Late Archaic period, it reflects the refined craftsmanship of Attic pottery workshops, where such vessels combined utility with artistic expression. At roughly 14¾ inches across, the original cup would have been passed among diners, its curving surface inviting painted decoration that enhanced both its function and visual appeal. The Colmar Painter, active in this transitional era, contributed to the evolution of Gr...