Terracotta fragment of a stemless kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
470–450 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
2011.604.1.8596
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from a stemless kylix, drinking cup, hails from Attic Greece during the Classical period (470–450 BCE). Crafted in the renowned pottery workshops of ancient Athens, such kylikes were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men reclined, drank wine, and engaged in philosophical discourse. The stemless design, low and wide-mouthed, allowed for easy handling and admiring the vessel's often intricate decorations, though only a portion survives here. Terracotta, fired clay, was the medium of choice for these everyday yet artistic objects, showcasing Gre...