Object description
This small object is a cosmetic jar from Ancient Egypt dating to between 2040 and 1550 BC. This is known as the Middle Kingdom, or Second Intermediate Period.
Two monkeys have been carved in relief on this jar, ensuring that they are very visible. The monkeys are in a squatting position, with their arms outstretched to touch each other. This pose means that their arms appear unnaturally long.
The jar is made from a rare stone called anhydrite. This material was almost solely used to make cosmetic jars such as this one. The stone has been carved to create a squat body, flat rim and lip. The neck opening is just wide enough to insert a finger or a kohl stick. Kohl is a type of eyeliner which was stored in jars.
Cosmetic Jar with motif of two Monkeys/Anhydrite/1st to 2nd millennium BC (Ancient Egypt, Middle Kingdom, Second Intermediate Period)/The Hunt Collection/PD
The importance of cosmetics
The application of make-up was important to both men and women in Ancient Egypt. The hieroglyphic term for makeup artist derives from the root “sesh,” which translates to write or engrave. Equating the skill of applying make-up to writing illustrates just how highly valued make-up was.
Cosmetics were not only used to to enhance features They also had a practical purpose. For example, kohl (a type of eyeliner) was used to protect the eyes from the glare of the desert sun. The pigment was made either from green malachite (a type of copper ore) or from a grey-black galena (lead ore). However, kohl was also used to accentuate eyeshadow and highlight colour.
The Ancient Egyptians also wore lipstick. This was made by blending animal fat or vegetable oil with ochre (an earthy pigment containing clay in shades of brown, yellow or red). We can see that the types of make-up we wear today have not changed much over thousands of years.
Even in death, we can see the importance of make-up to the Egyptians. Cosmetic jars were buried with their owners. For example, an intact burial of a female in Thebes dating to 1600 BC contained a vessel similar to this one with four monkeys carved on the outside. Objects found in graves were often made solely to be buried with the deceased- the burial goods were intended to represent the person’s life and illustrated what was important to them. In addition, on the surviving sarcophagi we see today, kohl and eyeshadow are very prominent on the painted faces of the deceased (see image below).
Sarcophagi, Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden.
Sources
Kohl jar – Works – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. https://collections.mfa.org/objects/164200
How ancient Egyptian cosmetics influenced our beauty rituals | CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/ancient-egypt-beauty-ritual-artsy/index.html
The Hunt Museum Essential Guide. Scala Publishers. 2002.
