Terracotta fragments of kylikes (drinking cups)
Unknown Artist
510–500 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
2011.604.1.6060a–c
Art Historical Context
These terracotta fragments from kylikes, or shallow drinking cups, hail from Attic Greece around 510–500 BCE, during the late Archaic. Crafted by an unknown potter-painter, they exemplify the exquisite black-figure technique prevalent in Athens at the time, where figures were incised through a glossy black slip to reveal the red clay beneath. Kylikes like these were essential for symposia—lively social gatherings where elite men reclined, drank wine, and discussed philosophy, politics, and poetry. Though incomplete, these shards offer a glimpse into the vibrant world of Archaic Greek pottery,...