Cosmetic Vessel (Cylinder Beaker)
Unknown Artist
1980–1801 BCE
Medium
travertine
Dimensions
h. 6.5 cm · diameter of mouth 5.6 cm
Classification
Vessels
Department
Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust
Accession Number
1914.813
About this artwork
Jars of this shape and material are common in Middle Kingdom tombs. This one, however, is inscribed with the Egyptian word merhet, which means "perfumed oil," and after thousands of years it still has traces of sweet-smelling resin.