Terracotta fragments of open shapes
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
2011.604.6.155a–d
Art Historical Context
These terracotta fragments of open shapes hail from Attic Greece during the Archaic and Classical periods (6th–5th centuries BCE), a golden age of ancient pottery production. Crafted in the region around Athens, these pieces are remnants of vases—likely shallow vessels such as kylikes (drinking cups) or bowlsdesigned for everyday use, symposia (social drinking parties), and ritual offerings. Attica was the epicenter of Greek ceramics, exporting wares across the Mediterranean and influencing countless cultures. Terracotta, a fired clay medium, was prized for its durability and versatility. Art...