Marble palette
On loan to The Met
This work of art is currently on loan to the museum.Technical Analysis: Ultraviolet-induced visible luminescence examination, optical microscopy
This nearly intact marble, trough-shaped palette has a concave surface with rounded edges that curve up at the sides. It resembles a fine bone artifact. There are some traces of incision-like markings. This type of vessel is briefly discussed by Getz-Gentle.(1) In the Stern Collection of Cycladic Art, L.2022.38.141 is a similar vessel.
The surface is smooth and polished. Examination under ultraviolet illumination shows that the palette was previously bonded and filled across the middle. There are associated fills along this join, and additional ones along the palette rim and on the underside of one end. Some very small losses are also visible along the rim. The underside shows some patches of encrustation.
Georgios Gavalas and Wendy Walker
(1) See Getz-Gentle, Pat. 1996. Stone Vessels of the Cyclades in the Early Bronze Age. pp.88-91, pls. 45 and 48d, University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press. For its closest parallel in size, E53, Basel Antikensammlung on loan from Bernoulli Collection, see p. 270, pl. 45c.
This nearly intact marble, trough-shaped palette has a concave surface with rounded edges that curve up at the sides. It resembles a fine bone artifact. There are some traces of incision-like markings. This type of vessel is briefly discussed by Getz-Gentle.(1) In the Stern Collection of Cycladic Art, L.2022.38.141 is a similar vessel.
The surface is smooth and polished. Examination under ultraviolet illumination shows that the palette was previously bonded and filled across the middle. There are associated fills along this join, and additional ones along the palette rim and on the underside of one end. Some very small losses are also visible along the rim. The underside shows some patches of encrustation.
Georgios Gavalas and Wendy Walker
(1) See Getz-Gentle, Pat. 1996. Stone Vessels of the Cyclades in the Early Bronze Age. pp.88-91, pls. 45 and 48d, University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press. For its closest parallel in size, E53, Basel Antikensammlung on loan from Bernoulli Collection, see p. 270, pl. 45c.
Artwork Details
- Title: Marble palette
- Period: Early Cycladic II
- Date: ca. 2700–2400/2300 BCE
- Culture: Cycladic
- Medium: Marble
- Dimensions: Height: 5/8 in. (1.6 cm)
Width: 1 9/16 in. (4 cm)
Length: 6 3/4 in. (17.2 cm)
Thickness: 1/8 in. (.3 cm) - Classification: Stone Sculpture
- Credit Line: Leonard N. Stern Collection, Loan from the Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Culture
- Object Number: L.2022.38.112
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art