Terracotta fragment of a kylix (drinking cup)
490–470 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Late Archaic/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
2011.604.1.6669
Art Historical Context
This exquisite terracotta fragment from a kylix, or shallow drinking cup, crafted by Attic Greek artist Brygan around 490–470 BCE, a glimpse into the Late Archaic to Early Classical transition in ancient pottery. Attic vases like this were central to symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men reclined, drank wine, and discussed philosophy or poetry. Brygan, associated with the innovative red-figure technique that emerged in Athens around 530 BCE, likely adorned this piece with detailed figures painted in the natural red clay, reserving the black-gloss background for dramatic contrast. ...