Kohl stick

Art Historical Context

This delicate wooden kohl stick, dating to around 1640–1550 B.C., hails from Egypt's Second Intermediate Period during Dynasty 17. Crafted from wood and measuring just 6. cm long, it served as a practical cosmetic tool for applying kohl—a black paste made from minerals like galena—to the eyes. In ancient Egyptian society, such utensils were everyday essentials, blending beauty with ritual: kohl not only enhanced appearance but was believed to ward off the evil eye and shield against the harsh desert sun. Dynasty 17 marked a pivotal era of transition in Thebes, the southern capital, as local r...