Terracotta lead-glazed scyphus (drinking cup)
Mold-made body, with applied handles. Pale green exterior and yellow-brown interior.
Vertical rim, with narrow, flaring lip and concave, narrow band below on exterior; convex-curving side; slightly flaring base ring; broad, flat base; small, raised center on interior of bottom; two ring handles on upper body, with projecting supports below; above each ring, thumb-rest, slanting upward and flanked by finials.
Decoration: matching pattern in high relief on both sides; two confronted sprays: at left, vine or sycamore leaves; at right, ivy leaves and berries; all issuing from ties at top of sides, concealed by the handle. Above decoration, narrow band of ovules. Raised circle on inner edge of base ring; raised circle towards center of base. On upper surface of handles: in the middle two raised ridges run across top, with three bud-like knobs at the end; the finials are shaped as birds' heads.
Intact, but one long firing crack across bottom.
Lead-glazed cup with floral sprays in relief made at Tarsus in Cilicia (southern Asia Minor).
Vertical rim, with narrow, flaring lip and concave, narrow band below on exterior; convex-curving side; slightly flaring base ring; broad, flat base; small, raised center on interior of bottom; two ring handles on upper body, with projecting supports below; above each ring, thumb-rest, slanting upward and flanked by finials.
Decoration: matching pattern in high relief on both sides; two confronted sprays: at left, vine or sycamore leaves; at right, ivy leaves and berries; all issuing from ties at top of sides, concealed by the handle. Above decoration, narrow band of ovules. Raised circle on inner edge of base ring; raised circle towards center of base. On upper surface of handles: in the middle two raised ridges run across top, with three bud-like knobs at the end; the finials are shaped as birds' heads.
Intact, but one long firing crack across bottom.
Lead-glazed cup with floral sprays in relief made at Tarsus in Cilicia (southern Asia Minor).
Artwork Details
- Title: Terracotta lead-glazed scyphus (drinking cup)
- Period: Early Imperial, Augustan
- Date: end of 1st century BCE–early 1st century CE
- Culture: Roman
- Medium: Terracotta; lead-glazed ware made at Tarsus (Cilicia)
- Dimensions: Height of rim: 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm)
Diameter of rim: 3 3/4 in. (9.7 cm)
Diameter of base: 2 5/8 in. (6.6 cm)
Width across handles: 6 3/16 in. (15.7 cm) - Classification: Vases
- Credit Line: The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
- Object Number: 74.51.389
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Roman
ca. 100 BCE
Roman
ca. late 1st century BCE‒early 2nd century CE
Roman
ca. 50–80 CE
Roman
late 1st–2nd century CE
Roman
late 1st century BCE–early 1st century CE
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.