Vase fragment
Unknown Artist
ca. 3000–2000 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
Other: 1 5/8in. (4.2cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Aegean · Early Helladic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Anonymous Gift, 1930
Accession Number
30.119.92
Art Historical Context
This delicate terracotta vase fragment hails from the Early Helladic (ca. 3000–2000 BCE), a era in Aegean prehistory on the Greek mainland. Part of the Early Bronze Age this time saw the rise of settled communities, early metallurgy, and distinctive pottery traditions that bridged Neolithic simplicity with more complex Minoan and Mycenaean to come. As a modest survivor from this distant world, it offers a tangible glimpse into the daily lives of ancient Aegean peoples, likely used for storing food, liquids, or ritual purposes. Crafted from terracotta—fired clay that was abundant and versatile...