Pectoral of Princess Sithathoryunet
The various stones have been used symbolically, such as red for a solar disk, or to make a specific element stand out from others, such as rows of feathers on the falcons.

Statuette of the god Anubis
As this wooden figure shows, painted colors have survived to a remarkable degree in Egypt due to its dry climate.

Fragment of a battle scene (detail)
Lighter and darker skin tones were sometimes used to differentiate overlapping figures.

Fragment of the head of a queen
The jasper used to create this face was a very diffcult stone to work, and the exquisite craftsmanship that has shaped and finished the piece could only be found in a royal workshop. The yellow stone clearly tells us that a queen was the subject.

Nikare and his family
It was a convention to portray men with reddish brown skin. Traces of this color can be seen on Nikare's torso.

Coffin of a Middle Kingdom official
Women were usually portrayed with yellow-tan skin tones. This figure is a goddess, her hands raised in a gesture of protection.