Cleveland Museum of Art

Vessel in the Shape of a Wild Boar

Date

700–500 BCE or 1900s CE

Medium

terracotta

Culture

Italy, Etruscan or modern forgery

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Wild boars were a favorite motif in classical antiquity, but this vessel has long puzzled scholars. Its brown, burnished surface, with incised geometric decoration, recalls Etruscan impasto pottery from as early as the seventh century BC. The naturalistic shape of the boar, however, resembles terracotta vessels made in the fifth century BC or later. Recent scientific analysis suggests that this vessel may have been made in the 20th century, and our curators and conservators are continuing their research. This boar enjoyed brief internet fame, with a series of online memes peaking in 2018.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.