Ointment Jar
Unknown Artist
ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
Medium
Travertine (Egyptian alabaster)
Classification
Ointment jar, foundation deposit
Period
New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1927
Accession Number
27.3.409a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite ointment jar, crafted around 1479–1458 B.C. during Egypt's New Kingdom Dynasty 18, exemplifies the refined artistry of ancient Egyptian stone carvers. Fashioned from travertine—known as Egyptian alabaster—this vessel's smooth, translucent quality made it ideal for holding precious cosmetics, oils, or unguents used in daily rituals, personal adornment, and funerary practices. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1927, it now graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Art collection. Dynasty 18 marked a golden age of Egyptian prosperity under pharaohs like Hatshepsut and Thu...