Ointment Flask which Has Papyrus Plants Upon It

Ointment Flask which Has Papyrus Plants Upon It

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity, 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

Vessels such as this contained small amounts of oil or perfume used for cosmetic purposes. The primary decoration—papyrus plants rising from a lotus flower—may allude to the creation of the universe. According to one account of creation, the lotus was the first thing to emerge from the primordial waters of chaos at the dawn of time. The papyrus was the heraldic plant of Lower, or northern, Egypt.

MEDIUM Faience, painted

•Place Made: Egypt

DATES ca. 1336-1250 B.C.E.

DYNASTY late XVIII Dynasty-early XIX Dynasty

PERIOD New Kingdom

DIMENSIONS 5 5/16 in. (13.5 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Brooklyn Museum

brooklynmuseum.org

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity, 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

Vessels such as this contained small amounts of oil or perfume used for cosmetic purposes. The primary decoration—papyrus plants rising from a lotus flower—may allude to the creation of the universe. According to one account of creation, the lotus was the first thing to emerge from the primordial waters of chaos at the dawn of time. The papyrus was the heraldic plant of Lower, or northern, Egypt.

MEDIUM Faience, painted

•Place Made: Egypt

DATES ca. 1336-1250 B.C.E.

DYNASTY late XVIII Dynasty-early XIX Dynasty

PERIOD New Kingdom

DIMENSIONS 5 5/16 in. (13.5 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Brooklyn Museum

brooklynmuseum.org