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Cosmetic flask, late 10th–11th century
Egypt or Syria
Free-blown, tooled, and stained glass; H. 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910 (10.130.2649)

This mukhula, or container for the eye makeup known as kohl, represents a rare example of opaque turquoise glass with stained decoration, little of which has survived. Mukhulas varied little in shape and size. This object may be dated to the late tenth or eleventh century on the basis of its decoration and color, which was used consistently for coin weights during and after the reign of the Fatimid caliph al-cAziz (r. 975–96).


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    Cosmetic flask, late 10th–11th century
    Egypt or Syria
    Free-blown, tooled, and stained glass; H. 4 in. (10.2 cm)
    Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910 (10.130.2649)