Terracotta vase in the form of a pygmy carrying a dead crane 299 BC

This terracotta vase from the Magenta Class, dating to 299 BC, depicts a pygmy carrying a dead crane. The figure is realistically rendered in a style typical of the late Hellenistic period. The piece is small in size, standing at just over 3 inches tall, but the detail in the sculpture is remarkable. This type of terracotta vessel, known as an askos, was likely used to hold perfume or other liquids. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City houses this intriguing and well-preserved example of ancient Greek art.