RARE EGYPTIAN WOODEN COSMETIC CONTAINER FROM THE ROYAL TOMB OF LADY

ew Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, reign of Amenhotep III, circa 1390–1353 BC. A wooden double kohl container comprising two parallel cylindrical compartments, each with a deep tubular cavity, a thickened circular rim and a flat base. The compartments are joined along their adjoining sides, with two correspondingly shaped lids connected by a central bridge and forming a single closure. The exterior is decorated with finely incised geometric and vegetal ornament, the recessed details contrasting with the dark wood through a pale inlay or paste filling. Three horizontal registers of repeating pendant lotus petal motifs encircle each cylinder, separated by broad undecorated bands and fine parallel lines. The lids are particularly elaborate, each with a pair of royal cartouches enclosed within concentric circular borders and an outer frieze of closely spaced triangular motifs. The cartouches identify Amenhotep III by his throne name, Nebmaatre, and his Great Royal Wife, Queen Tiye. The narrow vertical edges of the lids are decorated with short parallel incisions. Projecting rectangular tabs extend from the outer ends of the connected lids, each pierced with a circular hole. Additional peg holes and traces of former fittings are visible along the exterior of the container. The two compartments retain remnants of compacted kohl, an ancient Egyptian eye cosmetic traditionally applied with a slender rod. In November 1900, A. Daninos Pasha (1845–1925) discovered the tomb of the young harem lady Tama near Hawaret el-Gurob at the entrance to the Faiyum, following previous significant discoveries of wooden female statuettes made by locals in the area. Among the numerous toilet items in her burial equipment was this cosmetic container and a wooden statuette of a girl, which handed down to us the name of the owner, Tama. Based on the inscriptions on the various cosmetic containers, the tomb can be dated to the reign of Amenhotep III. For similar see: Louvre Museum E 11045 ; AF 2851The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Object Number 26.7.1446. For further finds from the tomb see Vandier d’Abbadie, Objets de toilette, 46ff., no. 128. 206–211; Egyptian Museum Cairo (1986), No. 154. Now newly: Aménophis III (Paris 1993), 358–361, no. 113bis. Size: 90mm x 60mm; Weight: 75g Provenance: Prince Collection, 1990s–2014; Ex. Private collection, Basel; formerly in the collection of Tigrane Pasha d’Abro. Recorded as originating from the tomb of Tama at Medinet el-Gurob, Faiyum, discovered in November 1900. Exhibited: Antikenmuseum Basel 2003-2007. Published: M. J. E. Quibell, A Tomb at Hawaret el Gurob, ASAE 2, 1901, 141–143, pl. If.; E. Chassinat, Une tombe inviolée de la XVIIIe dynastie découverte aux environs de Médinet el-Gorab dans le Fayoum, BIFAO 1, 1901, 225–234, pl. I–III; Collection des Antiquités Egyptiennes de Tigrane Pacha d’Abro, ed. by Daninos Pasha, Paris 1911, 17, no. 452, pl. XLVI. Literature: Bénédite, Objets de toilette; Vandier d’Abbadie, Objets de toilette, 41ff., no. 110–115; Dayagi-Mendels, Perfumes; Paszthory, Salben, Schminken und Parfüme, 3ff. Cf. also Ägyptens Aufstieg zur Weltmacht (Hildesheim 1987), 177, No. 94. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter. This piece is accompanied by a report from Lisa Sartini, Egyptologist PHD of Chimera Heritage Consultants.

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