Cosmetic Dish in the Shape of a Trussed Duck
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
On View: Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor
This delicately carved duck, bound and plucked as if for a food offering or an extravagant meal, functioned as a container for a cosmetic. The oval depression in the surface of the dish was originally covered with a separately carved lid in the shape of the duck’s body.
MEDIUM
Wood
DATES
ca. 1539–1292 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
Dynasty 18 (probably)
PERIOD
New Kingdom
DIMENSIONS
1 3/4 x 9/16 x 4 3/16 in. (4.5 x 1.5 x 10.7 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
37.610E
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Wooden toilet dish in the form of a trussed duck or goose. Feet and wings in relief on the underside: head and neck are openwork and modeled on both top and bottom. Oval depression on upper surface.
Condition: Small chip on inner edge of recess; small chips on duck’s bill.
CAPTION
Cosmetic Dish in the Shape of a Trussed Duck, ca. 1539–1292 B.C.E. Wood, 1 3/4 x 9/16 x 4 3/16 in. (4.5 x 1.5 x 10.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.610E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.610E_front_PS11.jpg)
IMAGE
front, 37.610E_front_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2015
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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What was the purpose of this piece?
This is a cosmetic dish. It has been carved in the shape of a trussed duck. You're seeing the bottom of the dish. The top is a smooth bowl that would have originally been covered by a top carved to look like the back of the duck.
Thank you!
You're welcome! Ancient Egyptians often wore cosmetics including eye kohl, as well as wigs! You can see a few other cosmetics containers, as well as hand mirrors, in the Egyptian galleries.
