<em>Circular Cosmetic Container with Lid</em>, ca. 1539–1292 B.C.E. Elephant ivory, wood, pigment, frit (?), and resin (?), 1 5/8 × 3 1/2 in. (4.1 × 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.597Ea-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.597Ea-b_view1_PS4.jpg)

Circular Cosmetic Container with Lid, ca. 1539–1292 B.C.E. Elephant ivory, wood, pigment, frit (?), and resin (?), 1 5/8 × 3 1/2 in. (4.1 × 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.597Ea-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.597Ea-b_view1_PS4.jpg)

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Damage or a cool sunburst design?

It's a cool lotus design! The lotus, like other flowers and marsh plants, had connotations of birth and rebirth and many images on cosmetic dishes contain symbols that refer to the afterlife.

Pretty!

I read in the label that the ancient Egyptians believed that cosmetics, combs, jewelry were included for sexual allure since rebirth require conception. But we use cosmetics, combs and jewelry on deceased people now, yet it’s not for sex. How do we know that sexual allure is the reason for the jewelry and cosmetics?

Great question! It has to do with the styling and what we know about the ancient Egyptians conceptions of the afterlife.

Today, much of the use of cosmetics on the dead is, as I'm sure you know, meant to make them look more lifelike and like themselves, to provide a sense of comfort to loved ones.

I don't believe much make-up was actually applied to the physical body in ancient Egypt, but instead that they would be entombed with the kind of cosmetics, perfumes, jewelry, and wigs that one might wear to a party.

Oh, I see. The cosmetics were included within the tomb, sort of like, “You’re gonna need these where you’re going.”

Exactly! You can see in the Stela of Thenet, for example, Thenet, on the right, wears a translucent dress and an object on her head known as a fragrant cone which would melt into her hair as perfume.

Interesting!

Circular Cosmetic Container with Lid

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor

MEDIUM Elephant ivory, wood, pigment, frit (?), and resin (?)

Reportedly From: Saqqara, Egypt

DATES ca. 1539–1292 B.C.E.

DYNASTY Dynasty 18

PERIOD New Kingdom

DIMENSIONS 1 5/8 × 3 1/2 in. (4.1 × 8.9 cm) mount: 12 × 3 1/4 × 2 1/2 in. (30.5 × 8.3 × 6.4 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.597Ea-b

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION A circular, convex shaped toilet dish with lid. The dish is probably hippopotamus ivory and has square projections to receive the lid pegs. The upper edge of the bowl curves inward and then flattens at the upper edge. The wooden lid opens on a swivel. The top surface of the lid is decorated with an incised rosette representing a lotus. Two incised lines circle the rosette. A hole in the side of one projection seems to have the purpose of keeping one of the lid pegs in. This would be accomplished by inserting a peg in the hole, it would then press against the lid peg. There is slight evidence of blue frit in the incised area. The lid does not fit the bowl since the holes for the pegs do not correspond between the two parts of the dish. Condition: Complete except for an area gouged on the underside of bowl.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor

CAPTION Circular Cosmetic Container with Lid, ca. 1539–1292 B.C.E. Elephant ivory, wood, pigment, frit (?), and resin (?), 1 5/8 × 3 1/2 in. (4.1 × 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.597Ea-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.597Ea-b_view1_PS4.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 37.597Ea-b_view1_PS4.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2016

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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