Cosmetic Container in Form of Trussed Duck
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
On View: Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor
Cosmetic Containers
Like us, the ancient Egyptians used cosmetics, and often for the same purposes.
Archaeologists use the term “cosmetic container” to describe a variety of Egyptian boxes that once held scented, oil-based ointments. The salves in these boxes were used by women and men to heighten sexual allure and to camouflage body odor. Orange or yellow stains seen on ancient representations of clothing and on actual surviving linen garments show how liberally such ointments were applied.
Like us, the ancient Egyptians used cosmetics, and often for the same purposes.
Archaeologists use the term “cosmetic container” to describe a variety of Egyptian boxes that once held scented, oil-based ointments. The salves in these boxes were used by women and men to heighten sexual allure and to camouflage body odor. Orange or yellow stains seen on ancient representations of clothing and on actual surviving linen garments show how liberally such ointments were applied.
MEDIUM
Wood, paste, pigment
DATES
ca. 1539–1292 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
Dynasty 18
PERIOD
New Kingdom
DIMENSIONS
1 3/4 × 2 1/4 × 6 3/4 in. (4.4 × 5.7 × 17.1 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
37.613E
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Wooden toilet box in the shape of a trussed duck. The body of the duck is hollowed-out and topped with a cover which pivots at the head end. The outer edges of the cover are decorated with incised triangles inlaid with a blue paste. The whole is outlined with two finely incised lines also inlaid with blue paste. The same motif surrounds the opening of the body. The head and neck are carved in the round, the head curved back so that the beak lies flat, joined to the side of the body. The eyes, the line where beak and head join, and three narrow triangular bands on top of the head were once inlaid with blue paste, traces of which still remain. On the underside of the body, the legs, webbed feet and wings are indicated in raised relief.
Condition: Excellent workmanship. The paste inlay is intact for the most part. The knobs which fasten the cover to the body at the tail ends are now missing. The tail end of the body has a crack as does the cover at the same end. There are traces of white pigmentation on the underside of the body.
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor
CAPTION
Cosmetic Container in Form of Trussed Duck, ca. 1539–1292 B.C.E. Wood, paste, pigment, 1 3/4 × 2 1/4 × 6 3/4 in. (4.4 × 5.7 × 17.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.613E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.37.613E_erg456.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, CUR.37.613E_erg456.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 9/6/2007
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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