Cleveland Museum of Art
Cosmetic Vessel
- Date
- c. 1980–1901 BCE
- Medium
- anhydrite
- Culture
- Egypt, Middle Kingdom (2040–1648 BCE), Dynasty 12
- Department
- Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Object ID
- 150919
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
- Edwin R. and Harriet Pelton Perkins Memorial Fund
- Provenance
- Formerly in the collection of John G. Ross (purchased 1952 in Cairo; on loan to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in the 1960s); sold: New York, Sotheby Parke Bernet. Purchased from James Freeman, Kyoto
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