Terracotta fragment of an undetermined shape
Unknown Artist
6th/5th centuries BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Attic · Archaic/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
2011.604.6.166
Art Historical Context
This terracotta fragment, hailing from Attic Greece in the 6th or 5th century BCE offers a glimpse into the Archaic and Classical periods when Athenian potters dominated the ancient Mediterranean pottery trade. Classified as part of a vase, it the durable terracotta medium—fired clay that allowed for intricate painted decorations in black-figure or emerging red-figure techniques. These were not just utilitarian but served as canvases for storytelling, depicting myths, heroes, and daily life, making them invaluable windows into Greek culture. Though its exact shape remains undetermined, such f...