Cosmetic Vessel

Squat stone pot with flat base, shoulders, separate flat collar and matching lid. Inside the pot is a lump of kohl (stibnite) and a ball of textile plugging shut the mouth of the collar piece. Bottom of lid is marked in ink '4000', the collection number given by Rev. MacGregor. From Abydos grave 416 A'07. The contents of this tomb has been fully published by Kemp and Merrillees (1980). It consisted of a series of shafts in a single group, containing a rich selection of grave goods, including Minoan pottery, all mostly in the Ashmolean Museum. Items from 416 A'07 in the Lady Lever Art Gallery include a stone cosmetic jar (LL5145), three ceramic vessels (LL 5594, LL 5609 and LL 5617); and in World Museum a stone cosmetic jar (1973.1.125). Purchased at Sotheby's, London, 26 June - 6 July 1922 (MacGregor Collection) Lot 1076: "Three kohl-vases, with lids and lips separate from the body of the vase; 2 in. to 2 1/8 in. high: 12th Dynasty; found in Tombs 108 and 416 At Abydos in 1909 and 1907".