Terracotta fragment of an amphora (jar)
Unknown Artist
second half of the 6th 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
2011.604.3.187
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment from an Attic amphora offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of Archaic Greek pottery, dating to the second half of the 6th century BCE. Produced in Athens, the heart of Attic vase-making, amphorae like this were essential two-handled jars used for storing and transporting wine, oil, and other goods. As a fragment, it survives from what was once a complete vessel, highlighting the fragility of ancient ceramics and the detective work of archaeologists and curators. In the Archaic period, Attic potters mastered terracotta techniques, firing clay at high temperatures to...