Cosmetic Vessel

Uppermost fragment of a hollow faience cylinder eyepaint tube inscribed with an epithet and throne name of King Horemheb, a New Kingdom pharaoh of the late Eighteenth Dynasty who ruled between 1323 and 1295 BC. Dark blue in colour with a column of hieroglyphs in white that can be read: "Lord of the Two Lands, Djeser-kheperu-ra Setep-en-ra, healthy…". It is thought cosmetic containers like this, that usually held kohl and inscribed with royal names, were distributed as favours by kings of the late 18th Dynasty, perhaps at occasions such as festivals. Wellcome Historical Medical Museum accession no. 31971. Formerly in the collection of Hon. Richard Bethell. Purchased at Sotheby's, London, 15-17 December 1924 lot 370: “A Fragment of a Kohl Tube, of yellow faience, on which is inscribed “The Great Royal Wife,” ANKH.S.EN.AMEN (Queen of TUT.ANKH.AMEN); part of a Handle, with the name of Queen SAT.AMEN (?), in pale blue inlaid in violet; another, with the prenomen of HOR.EM.HEB, white in violet; and a Handle, of pale blue faience incised with the prenomen and nomen of AAHMES.SA.NEITH; XVIII and XXVI dynasties (4)” (1924 p. 36). Comparanda: A. Kozloff et al Egypt's Dazzling Sun: Amenhotep III and His World (Cleveland, 1992), p. 413; Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London, UC586-8; 595; 109; 600; 598; 596; 602; 576.