Beaker
Unknown Artist
ca. 3850–2960 B.C.
Medium
Pottery
Dimensions
Height: 22.6 x Diam: 11 cm (8 7/8 x 4 5/16 in.)
Classification
Beaker
Period
Predynastic Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1899
Accession Number
99.4.95
Art Historical Context
This elegant beaker hails from Egypt's Predynastic Periodca. 3850–2960 B.C.), a formative era before the rise of the pharaohs and the monumental pyramids we associate with ancient Egypt. Crafted from pottery, it stands 22.6 cm tall with a diameter of 11 cm, making it a practical yet refined vessel likely used for drinking or pouring liquids in daily life or rituals. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in1899 by the Egypt Fund, it offers a tangible glimpse into one of humanity's earliest complex societies. Predynastic pottery like this beaker represents a pivotal advancement in craftsman...