Terracotta fragments of a psykter-column-krater joining 1986.11.12 480 BC

These terracotta fragments, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, are remnants of what was once a psykter-column-krater. The initial visual experience is one of fragmentation; the uniform trays display shards of varying sizes and shapes, a palette of terracotta and black-glazed surfaces. This arrangement allows us to consider the structure of the whole through its fragmented components. The act of joining these pieces together, as indicated by the title, becomes a symbolic gesture of reconstructing history and meaning. Each fragment presents a micro-narrative of form and texture, hinting at the vessel’s original aesthetic and functional context. The arrangement in trays also invites us to think about how these fragments can be re-contextualized within a museum setting. The order imposed on these shards by the trays is an attempt to categorize and present what remains, opening a dialogue about art's endurance. The enduring quality of this work functions not just aesthetically but also as part of a larger cultural and philosophical discourse.