Terracotta fragment of a kylix: Lip cup (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
third quarter of the 6th century 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
2011.604.3.1814
Art Historical Context
This exquisite terracotta fragment from a kylix, or lip cup, hails from Attic Greece in the third quarter of the6th century BCE, during the vibrant Archaic period. Produced in Athens, the epicenter of early Greek pottery, these drinking cups were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings where wine flowed and intellectual discourse thrived. As a "lip cup," this type features a distinctive wide, shallow bowl with an offset lip, often reserved in a stark contrast against glossy black glaze, showcasing the mastery of Attic potters. Crafted in terracotta, the medium allowed for the black-fi...