Terracotta fragments of a neck-amphora of Nicosthenic shape (jar)
Unknown Artist
last quarter 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
2011.604.3.210a–c
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Greek and Roman Art galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where these terracotta fragments offer a tantalizing glimpse into ancient Athenian life. Dating to the last quarter of the 6 century BCE, this neck-amphora of Nicosthenic shape belongs to the Archaic period, a when Attic potters revolutionized ceramic production. Though incomplete, the shards preserve the distinctive form of this two-handled jar, characterized by its elegant tall neck and robust body—hallmarks of the innovative workshop linked to the potter Nicostes. Nicosthenic amphorae were mass-produced for expo...