Terracotta pyxis (box)
ca. 590–570 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H.: 6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Greek, Corinthian · Middle Corinthian
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1906
Accession Number
06.1021.21a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite terracotta pyxis, crafted by the Canessa Painter 590–570 BCE during the Middle Corinthian period exemplifies the artistry of ancient Corinth, a powerhouse of Greek pottery production. Standing just 6 3/8 inches tall, this small lidded box—known as a pyxis—was likely used by women to store cosmetics, jewelry, or trinkets, reflecting everyday luxury in Archaic Greece. Corinthian vases like this were prized exports, the city's mastery of the black-figure technique, where incised details and added purple and white pigments brought scenes to life on a glossy black background. The py...