Artwork Page for Pomegranate Vase

Details / Information for Pomegranate Vase

Pomegranate Vase

1479–1425 BCE
Measurements
Diameter: 5.4 cm (2 1/8 in.); Diameter of mouth: 1 cm (3/8 in.); Overall: 6.9 cm (2 11/16 in.)
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

The small size of the flask, together with its narrow opening, suggests that it originally contained a small amount of precious liquid, perhaps an ancient perfume or an offering of pomegranate wine.

Description

This small, round-bottomed flask takes the shape of a pomegranate. The serrated petals or calyxes that trim the top mimic the turned-back outer husk that is characteristic of this fruit. The flask's aperture is small. Not native to Egypt, the pomegranate (Punica granatum) was introduced from western Asia or Cyprus in the first half of Dynasty 18, probably between the reigns of Amenhotep I and Tuthmosis III. The fruit's novelty, as well as its shape, most likely accounts for its tremendous popularity as a deluxe vessel form at this time. Perhaps best known in Egypt and abroad in the materials of faience and glass, the type also occurs in metal, wood, and stone.
A blue-green faience vessel takes the form of a pomegranate with a bulbous body and a jagged, crown-like rim. Glazed in muted turquoise, the surface is mottled with dark blue patches and earthy brown spots. Subtle vertical ridges create a faceted appearance across the uneven, slightly pitted exterior. The vessel tapers into a short neck before flaring into pointed petals, with darker tones accentuating the base and crown.

Pomegranate Vase

1479–1425 BCE

Egypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18, reign of Tuthmosis III (1479–1425 BCE) or later

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