The “Terracotta Aryballos in the Form of An Eagle’s Head” is an ancient Greek pottery artwork dated to around 600 BC and part of the Archaic art movement. This piece, which combines both animal painting and utensil genres as part of the Relief and plastic series, is crafted from terracotta. It is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork depicted in the image is a sculptural aryballos, with a stylized representation of an eagle’s head. The terracotta surface appears smooth and substantially intact. The eagle’s head is depicted with great care and detail, presenting a beak that curves downward and a prominent eye that conveys a sense of alertness and character. Intricate patterns and lines suggest feathers, and there are additional decorative elements, such as dots and symbolic inscriptions or motifs, adding to its overall aesthetic appeal. As an aryballos, this object would have been used for holding oils or perfumes, commonly utilized in the practices of grooming and athletics in ancient Greek culture. The spout for dispensing the liquid is located at the top of the head, and the item is supported on a metal stand for display purposes, indicating its status as a valued artifact.