Terracotta fragment of a kylix: eye-cup (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
520–510 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
2011.604.1.5834
Art Historical Context
This exquisite terracotta fragment from an Attic kylix, or eye-cup drinking vessel, dates to 520–510 BCE, height of Greece's Archaic period.ed in Athens, the epicenter of ancient Greek pottery production, it exemplifies the technical mastery of Attic vase-makers. Kylikes were shallow, stem-footed cups designed for sipping wine during symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men debated philosophy, poetry, and politics. As a fragment, it offers a tantalizing glimpse into everyday luxury turned art. What sets eye-cups apart is their whimsical design: large, staring eyes painted on the exte...