Terracotta fragment of an amphora (jar)
Unknown Artist
late 6th century BCE/early 5th 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
2011.604.2.71
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from an Attic amphora, dating to the late 6th or early 5th century, offers a glimpse into the vibrant of Archaic Greek pottery. Produced in Athens, the heart of Attic vase-making, amphorae like this were essential two-handled jars used for storing and wine, olive oil, or grain. Though only a fragment survives, it exemplifies the craftsmanship of a period when Greek artists mastered wheel-thrown terracotta, firing it to a warm reddish hue before applying intricate decorations. Attic vases from this era mark the transition from black-figure to pioneering red-figure tech...