A fine Egyptian Lidded Cosmetic Jar, Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11 - 12, ca. 2040 - 1786 BCE

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Used for storing kohl (eye paint), this elegant squat jar of speckled granite has smooth convex sides that swell upward from a small, footed base into a high shoulder leading to a two-piece wide, angled rim that detaches. As is common with this type of vessel, drilling of the interior is narrow and does not conform to the shape of the body. Egyptians used kohl extensively, both to emphasize and protect their eyes. The wide rim of this small pot meant that small crumbs of this precious product, from distant Arabian mines near the Red Sea, were not wasted. Dimensions: Height: 2 3/8 inches (6 cm) Condition: Minor chips around the foot, otherwise intact and in overall very good condition. A lovely example. Provenance: Private Collection of Victor Pafundi (1949 - 2018), Florida. Show more