Description
| ITEM | Fish shaped cosmetic palette with remains of green eye paint |
| MATERIAL | Stone |
| CULTURE | Egyptian, Predynastic Period, Naqada II |
| PERIOD | 3400 – 3200 B.C |
| DIMENSIONS | 80 mm x 190 mm |
| CONDITION | Good condition |
| PROVENANCE | Ex Museum Exhibiton of the Arbeitsgruppe für Biblische Archäologie, Germany (Deaccession) |
Stone palettes were used as surfaces on which to grind green or black pigments into powder. After adding a gum-like adhesive to the powder, the mixture was applied as eye makeup.
This palette represents a tilapia fish, which lived in the Nile and was emblematic of fertility. The Egyptians also ate tilapia, and it is still a popular dish today.
PARALLELS
The British Museum, Accession number EA67708
The British Museum, Accession number EA58679
