Terracotta fragment of a stemless cup
Unknown Artist
third 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
2011.604.1.8740
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta fragment from a stemless cup hails from Attic Greece in the third quarter of the5th century BCE, the height of the Classical period. Produced in Athens, the epicenter of ancient Greek artistry, such vases were everyday essentials—used for drinking wine at symposia or in households—yet they showcase the era's masterful pottery techniques. Stemless cups, or bolsals, were practical innovations, sitting stably on tables without fragile stems, reflecting the Greeks' blend of form and function. Attic terracotta vases like this one are prized for their cultural insights, oft...