Terracotta boar figurine
Unknown Artist
ca. 2000–1800 BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)
Classification
Vases
Culture & Period
Cypriot · Early Cypriot III–Middle Cypriot I
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.834
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming terracotta boar figurine, standing just 3 3/4 inches (9.5 cm) tall, hails from ancient Cyprus during the Early Cypriot III to Middle Cypriot I periods (ca. 2000–1800 BCE). Craft from fired clay—a durable and accessible medium favored in the Bronze Age—this small sculpture captures the sturdy form of a boar, a motif that appears in tags associated with the piece. Its modest size suggests it may have served as a votive offering, amulet, or even a zoomorphic vessel, given its classification among vases in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. In Cypriot culture of this era, ...