Cosmetic Vessel

Fragment of a hollow cylinder made to contain kohl eyepaint. Down one side in a column of hieroglyphic text naming Ankhesenamun, one of the daughters of King Akhenaten and his Great Royal Wife Nefertiti, who became the Great Royal Wife of her half-brother, King Tutankhamun. The inscription reads:” …the Great Royal Wife, Ankhesenamun”. Possibly collected at Tell el Amarna. Marked in ink "18...". 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.