Urn in the form of a hut

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Urn in the form a hut*, a captivating bronze vessel (11 9/16 x 14 1/4 in.) from the Metropolitan Museum of's Greek and Roman Art collection. Crafted in modern times as a faithful reproduction of Villanovan style, this urn evokes the ancient Iron Age culture (c. 900–700 BCE) that flourished in Italy, predating the Etrusc. Villanovan artisans shaped such urns like humble thatched huts to house cremated remains, symbolizing the deceased's earthly home in the afterlife—a poignant blend of domestic architecture and funerary ritual. Bronze, a durable alloy of copper and tin, was prized ...