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Spouted Bowl
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Both ancient Egyptian men and women loved cosmetics. Unguents, oils, and perfumes made from aromatic plant resins and gums were obtained at great cost from distant lands. The objects identified with cosmetics were given lavish treatment. The luxurious obsidian and gold beaker hints at the precious contents it once held. Others are fanciful in form, such as an ostrich egg. The god Bes, patron god of cosmetics, himself is the subject of a colorful jar. The delicately carved human face and the head of a giraffe decorated elaborate ivory cosmetic spoons.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Dynasty 4 |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 2573–2454 BCE |
| Culture / Origin | Egypt, Old Kingdom (2647–2124 BCE), Dynasty 4 |
| Medium | anorthosite gneiss |
| Dimensions | Diameter: 10.8 cm (4 1/4 in.); Diameter of mouth: 9.1 cm (3 9/16 in.); Overall: 6.4 cm (2 1/2 in.) |
| Department | Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art |
| Type | Vessels |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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