Cleveland Museum of Art
Kohl Container
- Date
- 1540–1296 BCE
- Medium
- wood
- Culture
- Egypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18
- Department
- Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Object ID
- 94125
From the Cleveland Museum of Art record
Cosmetic vessels would have once contained scented oils or ointments used for beautifying the body, while kohl containers held the eye paint seen in many depictions of ancient Egyptians. Galena, a mineral used in eye paint, helped reflect the sun and repelled insects and tiny organisms that could cause eye disease and blindness. Cosmetics were an essential element of daily life and associated with upholding the ancient Egyptians’ high standards of cleanliness.
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Provenance & credit
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- Credit line
- Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust
- Provenance
- Purchased in Egypt by Lucy Olcott Perkins through Henry W. Kent
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