Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)
Unknown Artist
early 6th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
East Greek · 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
2011.604.13.1
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Archaic Greece with this elegant terracotta kylix, shallow drinking cup from the early6th century BCE. Crafted by an unknown East Greek artisan, this vessel hails from a period when Greek pottery was blossoming, bridging the Geometric and Classical eras. East Greek wares, often produced on islands like Rhodes or Samos, were prized for lively designs and technical finesse, though this example exemplifies the everyday elegance of sympotic life—those lively drinking parties where wine flowed and ideas sparkled. Made of fired terracotta, the kylix's broad bowl and s...