Egyptian Middle Kingdom Kohl Jar

$625.17

An Egyptian cosmetic vessel for kohl, made of alabaster. The vessel is carved and pyriform in shape, tapering down to a small, flat base. The neck is plain and features no rim, while the interior of the vessel is hollowed and smoothed.

 

Date: Circa 2000 - 1800 BC
Period: Middle Kingdom
Condition: Very fine condition; complete and intact; a few light surface grazes as to be expected.

SOLD

SKU: AS-1823 Category: Tag:

Jars of this kind were used to store kohl, before it was applied to the body with a glass rod or reed. Kohl comes from a lead sulphide called “galena”, which was considered to have disinfecting and fly-deterrent properties, and is found frequently prescribed for assorted eye complaints in medical papyri. The Ancient Egyptians (both men and women) wore kohl on their eyelids as protection against the glare of the sun. In addition to this practical use, outlining the eyes could also have been a way of drawing a protective amulet, such as the Wadjet Eye, right onto the skin. To make kohl, the galena was first ground up on a palette, with water or animal fat then added to create a paste. This paste would have adhered to the skin, with soot also added to produce a darker coloured kohl.

Weight 46.4 g
Dimensions L 6.0 x W 2.0 cm
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