Kohl Jar with Lid
Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12 (about 1985–1773 BCE)
Medium
Travertine (Egyptian alabaster)
Dimensions
a (jar): 7.1 × 6.8 × 7 cm (2 13/16 × 2 11/16 × 2 3/4 in.) b (lid): .68 × 6 × 6 cm (1/4 × 2 3/8 × 2 3/8 in.)
Classification
personal grooming / hygiene / cosmetic container
Department
Arts of Africa
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
130031
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Kohl is the modern name for the dark eyeliner worn by the Egyptians. The powdered cosmetic was stored in small, lidded jars. In the Middle Kingdom, the preferred shape was the squat jar with a wide, flat rim.
About the Artist
Ancient Egyptian
Ancient Egyptian artists, a collective of highly skilled artisans spanning over three millennia from the Predynastic period (c. 6000–3150 BC) to the Roman era (30 BC–4th century AD), produced some of humanity's most enduring masterpieces. These anonymous craftsmen, often organized in state-sponsored workshops, lived in dedicated communities like Deir el-Medina near Luxor during the New Kingdom (c....