Terracotta fragment of a pyxis (box)
Unknown Artist
second quarter of the 5th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · 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
2011.604.2.2371
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta fragment a pyxis, or small lidded box, hails from Attic Greece in the second quarter of the5th century BCE, the height of the Classical period.ed in ancient Athens—the cradle of democracy, philosophy, and monumental architecture like the Parthenon—these pyxides were everyday treasures, often used by women to store cosmetics, jewelry, trinkets. As a vase classification piece, it exemplifies the masterful pottery traditions of Attica, where terracotta's earthy warmth and durability made it ideal for both functional and decorative objects. Though only a fragment survives...