Terracotta oinochoe (jug)
ca. 350–330 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 7 5/8 in. (19.3 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, South Italian, Apulian, Canosan · Late Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1971
Accession Number
1971.11.19
Art Historical Context
This elegant terracotta oinochoe, or wine jug, hails from the Knudsen Group, a workshop active in ancient Apulia (modern-day Puglia, Italy) around 350–330 BCE during the Late Classical period. Crafted in South Italian Greek colonies known as Magna Graecia, it exemplifies Canosan pottery—a regional style prized for its vibrant red-figure painting and innovative forms. Standing just 7 5/8 inches tall, this compact vessel was likely used in symposia, the lively Greek drinking parties where wine flowed freely, blending daily utility with artistic flair. Terracotta, fired clay painted with glossy ...