Vase fragment

Art Historical Context

This delicate terracotta vase fragment offers a tantalizing glimpse into the vibrant world of Minoan culture, flourishing on the island of Crete during the Bronze Age (circa 3000–1100 BCE). As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Greek and Roman Art collection, it exemplifies the everyday artistry of a seafaring civilization renowned for its sophisticated palaces, frescoes, and intricate pottery. Though tiny—measuring just 5/8 × 15/16 × 1/8 inches—this shard underscores how even small survivals from antiquity preserve invaluable cultural echoes. Terracotta, a fired clay medium, was a stap...