Dish in the shape of a leaf

Art Historical Context

This delicate dish, carved in the shape of a leaf during Egypt's Early Dynastic Periodca. 3100–2900 B.C.), the masterful stoneworking of Dynasty 1. Fashioned from greywacke—a hard, fine-grained stone quarried from distant regions like the Eastern Desert—this shallow vessel measures about 19 cm long, perfect for holding oils, cosmetics, or ritual offerings. Its naturalistic form captures the vein-like textures and subtle curves of a real leaf, showcasing the era's advanced lapidary techniques using copper tools and abrasives. In the formative years of unified Egypt under the first pharaohs, su...