The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Pyxis

400–300 BCE

Greece, Attic

marble
Diameter: 7.7 cm (3 1/16 in.); Overall: 4.6 cm (1 13/16 in.); Diameter of lid: 12.2 cm (4 13/16 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1916.759
Location: 102C Greek

Did You Know?

This vessel has a threaded lid, like a modern mason jar, allowing it to be tightly sealed.

Description

Pyxides came in a huge variety of sizes, shapes, and materials in the ancient world. Images of pyxides in Greek art often show them being used by women, which has led scholars to believe that they may have been used to hold jewelry or cosmetics. This pyxis is one of few surviving examples made from stone, signifying that it may have had an elite owner.
  • Inaugural Exhibition. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (co-organizer) (June 6-September 20, 1916).
  • {{cite web|title=Pyxis|url=false|author=|year=400–300 BCE|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.759