Jar
Unknown Artist
ca. 3850–2960 B.C.
Medium
Diorite
Dimensions
H. 6.1 cm (2 3/8 in); rim diam. 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in)
Classification
Jar
Period
Predynastic Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Fletcher Fund and The Guide Foundation Inc. Gift, 1966
Accession Number
66.99.199
Art Historical Context
This delicate diorite jar, around 3850–2960 B.C. during Egypt's Predynastic Period offers a glimpse into one of humanity's earliest sophisticated civilizations. Standing just 6.1 cm tall with a rim diameter of 3.8 cm, it was likely used to hold precious oils, cosmetics, or perfumes—luxuries reserved for the elite. Diorite, a dense and exceptionally hard igneous stone, was prized for its durability and resistance to cracking, making it ideal for vessels that could last millennia. Artisans in this era, before the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, honed remarkable stoneworking techniques usi...