Terracotta fragments of skyphoi (deep drinking cups)?

Art Historical Context

These terracotta fragments from ancient Attic Greece, dating to the 6th or 5th century BCE likely belong to skyphoi—deep, two-handled drinking cups used in everyday social rituals like the symposion, where men gathered to drink wine, discuss philosophy, and bond. Produced during the Archaic and early Classical periods, they exemplify the masterful pottery tradition of Athens, a hub of artistic innovation. Though incomplete, these shards hint at the vibrant painted decorations typical of Attic vases, possibly featuring black-figure or pioneering red-figure techniques where figures were outlined in slip (liquid clay) before firing, creating enduring glossy black or reserved red hues against the clay. Attic skyphoi were not just functional but cultural treasures, reflecting the Greeks' love for symmetrical forms and narrative scenes from mythology or daily life. Their survival offers a window into a society transitioning from rigid Archaic styles to the more naturalistic grace of Classical art. Generously gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2011 by Dietrich von Bothmer, a leading scholar of Greek ceramics, these fragments underscore the fragility and allure of ancient artifacts—pieced together from the earth to revive stories from 2,500 years ago. A testament to Attic ingenuity, they remind us how ordinary cups captured the spirit of an extraordinary civilization.