Terracotta fragment of a neck-amphora (jar)
Unknown Artist
last 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
2011.604.3.343
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a neck-amphora, dating to the last quarter of the 6 century BCE, offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of Archaic Attic Greek pottery. Produced in Athens during a period when the city was emerging as a cultural powerhouse, neck-amphorae were elegant two-handled jars designed for storing and transporting olive oil or wine—staples of ancient Greek life. The distinct tall neck and swelling body made them both functional and ideal for artistic decoration, often showcasing black-figure painting techniques where figures were incised through a glossy black slip to reve...