Terracotta fragment of a stemless cup
Unknown Artist
460–450 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
2011.604.1.8732
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta fragment from a stemless cup offers a glimpse into everyday life in Classical Athens around 460–450 BCE. Crafted in the Attic style, a hallmark of Greek pottery production centered in Athens, this piece belongs to the vibrant world of symposia—social gatherings where elite men reclined on couches, sharing wine, poetry, and conversation. Stemless cups like this one, often called bolsals, were practical yet elegant vessels, designed for stability and ease of use without a raised foot. Attic terracotta vases from the Classical period represent a pinnacle of ancient ceram...