Terracotta rim fragment of a mastoid (drinking cup with narrow base)
Unknown Artist
late 6th/early 5th century 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
2011.604.3.1089
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta rim fragment from a mastoid—a specialized drinking cup with a narrow base—offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of Archaic Attic Greece, dating to the late 6th or early 5th century BCE. Mastoids were popular at symposia, the all-male drinking parties central to Athenian social life, where guests reclined and enjoyed wine mixed with water. Crafted in the renowned Attic workshops, this piece exemplifies the everyday elegance of Greek pottery, even in its fragmentary state. Terracotta, fired clay painted with mineral-based slips, was the medium of choice for these vase...