Cosmetics

This display houses some of the various types of items used to make, mix, hold, and apply cosmetics. Makeup was made from a variety of plant materials, minerals, ash, oils, and fats. Perhaps the most well-known ancient makeup type was kohl, which was basically a black or dark-colored eyeliner made from lead or some other type of similar mineral and mixed with oils or animal fat. Bowls, palettes, and small grinding mortars were used to crush ingredient materials and mix them. Cosmetic spoons and sticks could be used to mix and apply makeup while kohl sticks were eyeliner applicators with rounded ends. As evidenced by the artifacts and pictures on display, these cosmetic containers and applicators were made in a variety of forms from various materials.

Artifacts on Display:

1. Cosmetic Tube
   Date: possibly Early to Middle Bronze Age (c. 2500 BC - 1600 BC)
   Provenance: unknown
   Composition: bone body and metal base
   Collection: LCA Permanent Collection

2. Cosmetic Applicator
   Date: Modern replica
   Provenance: Israel
   Composition: wood
   Collection: LCA Permanent Collection

3. Cosmetic Bowl
   Date: unknown
   Provenance: unknown
   Composition: alabaster
   Collection: LCA Permanent Collection

4. Alabastron and Kohl Stick
   Date: unknown
   Provenance: unknown
   Composition: alabaster (alabastron) and bronze (kohl stick)
   Collection: LCA Permanent Collection

5. Cosmetic Grinding Palette and Grinder
   Date: Middle Kingdom (c. 1900-1640 BC) (grinding palette) and modern (grinder)
   Provenance: Egypt (grinding palette) and USA (grinder)
   Composition: basalt (grinding palette) and clay (grinder)
   Collection: on loan from Dr. Randy Huffines

6. Mirror
   Date: 610-800 AD
   Provenance: Alexandria, Egypt
   Composition: Bronze
   Collection: on loan from the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State University

7. Ash
   Date: modern
   Provenance: USA
   Composition: ash
   Collection: LCA Collection

8. Malachite
   Date: modern
   Provenance: USA
   Composition: malachite
   Collection: LCA Collection

9. Ochre
   Date: modern
   Provenance: USA
   Composition ochre
   Collection: LCA Collection

10. Cosmetic Jar with Lid
    Date: possibly Roman Period (1st century BC - 5th century AD)
    Provenance: unknown
    Composition: alabaster
    Collection: Patterson Collection

11. Cosmetic Spoon
    Date: possibly Roman Period (1st century BC - 5th century AD)
    Provenance: unknown
    Composition: bronze
    Collection: LCA Permanent Collection

12. Combination Cosmetic Spoon and Kohl Stick
    Date: possibly Roman Period (1st century BC - 5th century AD)
    Provenance: unknown
    Composition: bronze
    Collection: LCA Permanent Collection

13. Double Kohl Stick
    Date: unknown
    Provenance: unknown
    Composition: bronze
    Collection: LCA Permanent Collection

14. Alabastron
    Date: c. 6th century BC
    Provenance: unknown
    Composition: alabaster
    Collection: LCA Permanent Collection

Pictures on Display

1. Egyptian Duck Cosmetic Box
   Date: c. 1550-1196 BC (New Kingdom Period)
   Provenance: Egypt
   Composition: bone, elephant ivory, and hippopotamus ivory
   Collection: Walters Art Museum

2. Greek Red-Figure Pyxis and Cover with Women and Erotes (cosmetics container)
   Date: c. 370-360 BC (Classical Period)
   Provenance: Attica, Greece
   Composition: clay
   Collection: Walters Art Museum

3. Egyptian Cosmetic Box in the Shape of a Capital
   Date: c. 664-300 BC (Late Period - Ptolemaic Period)
   Provenance: Egypt
   Composition: faience
   Collection: Metropolitan Museum of Art

4. Egyptian Cosmetic Spoon in the Shape of a Swimming Woman
   Date: c. 1390-1352 BC (Dynasty 18 of the New Kingdom Period)
   Provenance: Egypt
   Composition: alabaster and steatite
   Collection: Metropolitan Museum of Art