Cosmetic container (?)
Unknown Artist
ca. 9th century BCE
Medium
Bone
Dimensions
3.39 x 0.98 in. (8.61 x 2.49 cm)
Classification
Ivory/Bone-Implements
Culture & Period
Iran · Iron Age II, Hasanlu Period IV
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1960
Accession Number
60.20.27
Art Historical Context
This delicate bone object, possibly a cosmetic container, hails from ancient Iran during the Iron Age II, specifically the Hasanlu Period IV the 9th century. Measuring just 3.39 x 0.98 inches, its petite size suggests it was a personal item, likely carried daily for storing unguents, kohl, or other beauty aids. Discovered at the Hasanlu site in northwest Iran it offers a glimpse into the material culture of a vibrant period marked by emerging iron technology and complex societies in the Ancient Near East. Crafted from bone—a readily available, workable medium—the artifact showcases the skille...