Object Description
An Egyptian cosmetic jar made in alabaster, used for storing ointments. The large, cylindrical body features two small lug handles to the sides and a slightly pinched neck. A lid would have originally been part of the jar, keeping any liquids inside fresh to use.
Egyptian alabaster, also known as travertine, was frequently used for cosmetic jars in antiquity. As a soft and porous material it was easier to carve than marble. Such a jar would have likely held precious liquids and oils, used to anoint the body.