Oryx Dish in the Brooklyn Museum, May 2011

Title: Oryx Dish

Date: ca. 1539–1292 B.C.E.

Dynasty: Dynasty 18

Period: New Kingdom

Geography: Place made: Egypt

Medium: Faience

Classification: Accessory

Dimensions: 2 13/16 × 4 13/16 × 13/16 in. (7.1 × 12.3 × 2 cm)

Credit Line: Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.

Accession Number: 86.226.16

Object Label: Cosmetic Containers

Like us, the ancient Egyptians used cosmetics, and often for the same purposes.

Archaeologists use the term “cosmetic container” to describe a variety of Egyptian boxes that once held scented, oil-based ointments. The salves in these boxes were used by women and men to heighten sexual allure and to camouflage body odor. Orange or yellow stains seen on ancient representations of clothing and on actual surviving linen garments show how liberally such ointments were applied.


Text from: www.brooklynmuseum.org/objects/4260