Ink well

Middle Kingdom

ca. 2030–1640 B.C.

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 109

To make black ink, Egyptians mixed the carbon derived from partially burned organic materials, such as oil or wood, with some sort of binder, probably gum arabic. Red ink was made from hematite, a naturally occurring mineral form of iron oxide.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Ink well
Period: Middle Kingdom
Dynasty: Dynasty 13–17
Date: ca. 2030–1640 B.C.
Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Asasif, East of Pabasa, Radim, Burial 6A.X.B12, MMA excavations, 1918–19
Medium: Wood
Dimensions: H. 4.5 × L 12.2 × D. 5.6 cm (1 3/4 × 4 13/16 × 2 3/16 in.)
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1919
Object Number: 19.3.78
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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