Relief fragment of a perfume press

Middle Kingdom

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 104

This small fragment of relief comes from a representation of a wine or oil press. The angular pole at the right belongs to a wooden construction from which hangs a sack in a net. Tightening the sack with a lever pressed the contents together until the last drops of liquid oozed out of the bottom.

The presence of a woman in this scene (part of her body is visible at left) suggests that we are seeing the production of perfume from flowers soaked in oil. Significantly, one of Neferu’s titles was “the one who sweetens the hall with her fragrant smell.”

For other reliefs from the tomb of Neferu, see 31.3.1 and 26.3.353*.

Relief fragment of a perfume press, Limestone, paint

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Relief fragment of a perfume press, Limestone, paint
Relief fragment of a perfume press, Limestone, paint

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