Description:

Ancient Egypt, Early Gerzean, Naqada II, ca. 3500 to 3200 BCE. A smooth, flat, greenish-grey schist palette, in the form of a guinea fowl. The shape of the palette is a rounded body with a projecting neck and a nub-shaped feather on the lower side. There is a tiny perforation through the upper part of the body, perhaps used to hang this item on a wall. Palettes like this one were used by the Egyptians to make cosmetics for eye paint and eye protection. They are often found in the form of stylized animals; more elaborate forms, some with relief carvings, were made for temple ceremonies where priests would apply makeup to images of deities. Size: 8.5" W x 4.25" H (21.6 cm x 10.8 cm)

See a similar example at the Brooklyn Museum: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/3851

Provenance: private New York, USA collection, acquired in 2012

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#148200

  • Condition: Small losses to the edges, notably the "head" of the guinea fowl. Signs of use are visible on the surface, with light deposits. Overall nice preservation of form.

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September 5, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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