Palette in the Form of a Turtle
Unknown Artist
c. 3500–3050 BCE
Medium
graywacke
Dimensions
{"overall":{"width":0.078,"length":0.096}}
Classification
Implements
Department
Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund
Accession Number
1989.47
About this artwork
Stone palettes were used for grinding eyepaint worn by men and women alike for cosmetic purposes and to protect against sun glare and eye infections. There were two types of eyepaint: green, made from malachite (copper ore), and black, made from galena (lead ore). Small quantities of ore are sometimes found in graves alongside the palettes.