Artwork Page for Palette in the Form of a Turtle

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Palette in the Form of a Turtle

c. 3500–3050 BCE

Egypt, Predynastic (5000–2950 BCE), Naqada IIa–IIIa

(3650–3000 BCE)
Medium
graywacke
Measurements
Overall: 7.8 cm (3 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund 1989.47
Public Domain
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Location
107 Egyptian
Print
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Did You Know?

This is an ancient makeup palette used to blend and apply cosmetics.

Description

Stone palettes were used for grinding eyepaint worn by men and women alike for cosmetic purposes and to protect against sun glare and eye infections. There were two types of eyepaint: green, made from malachite (copper ore), and black, made from galena (lead ore). Small quantities of ore are sometimes found in graves alongside the palettes.
A dark gray graywacke stone is polished into a flattened turtle featuring swirling, cloud-like streaks of light gray marbling. From the horizontal oval body, four short limbs with small grooves extend. At our right, a rounded head contains two small circular holes, while a pointed tail on the left features one. Fine cracks trace across the symmetrical surface of this smooth object, defined by its organic, rounded contours.

Palette in the Form of a Turtle

c. 3500–3050 BCE

Egypt, Predynastic (5000–2950 BCE), Naqada IIa–IIIa (3650–3000 BCE)

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