Terracotta fragments from closed shapes
Unknown Artist
475–400 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
2011.604.2.1190a–c
Art Historical Context
These terracotta fragments hail from closed-shape vases crafted in Attic Greece during the Classical period (475–400 BCE), golden age of Athenian artistry following the Persian Wars. Produced in workshops near Athens, such vases—likely lekythoi or aryballoi with narrow necks—served practical purposes like storing oils, perfumes, or unguents for daily rituals, symposia, andary offerings. Though the artist remains unknown, these pieces reflect the refined aesthetics of Attic pottery, renowned for its balance of form and subtle decoration. Terracotta, fired clay, was the medium of choice for its...