Analyzing an Art Object

Terracotta Krater

Exhibited at Met museum (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.d. )

Attributed to the Hirschfeld Workshop

Period: Geometric

5/8 in. (108.3 cm) diameter 28 1/2 in. (72.4 cm)

Classification: Vases

Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1914

Accession Number

The vase referred to as the terracotta krater displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET). The object itself is very large and stands over three feet tall. The size of the vase would make it hard to be used in a practical manner for daily tasks especially since it is made of terracotta (baked earth) and would be fairly heavy and difficult to carry. However, the vase was not made to be used on a daily basis. In fact, it was used as a burial marker to honor friends or family which explains why someone would take the time to decorate the vase with such ornate designs.

The designs themselves are referred to as geometric because many of the patterns that are illustrated are geometrically designed. For example, on the vases very top and very bottom sections there are framed rings of geometric patterns. In an interview posted on YouTube, a museum representative explains that although geometric designs have appeared before the 8th century BCE, during the 8th century many works had begun to illustrate more human illustrations; such as the case with this objected (Hahn, 2011). This object portrays a burial scene with an individual lying on a table surrounding by others who are grieving the person.