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, Raman spectroscopy
The palette, carved from fine-grained (maximum grain size ≈ 1 mm) heteroblastic white marble, is rectangular in shape with a rounded underside and a rolled border framing its flat surface. It is intact and complete except for a repair in one corner. There is a shallow drill hole on the underside of one corner [different corner?]. Accretions, some in the shape of rootlets are scattered over much of the surface and are heavier on the underside because the top has been mechanically cleaned in modern times. There is erosion along the grain boundaries over most of the object. Numerous red particles on the raised edge of the rolled border, as well as red and blue particles scattered throughout, were found to be modern pigments.
Seán Hemingway, Dorothy Abramitis, Federico Carò
The palette, carved from fine-grained (maximum grain size ≈ 1 mm) heteroblastic white marble, is rectangular in shape with a rounded underside and a rolled border framing its flat surface. It is intact and complete except for a repair in one corner. There is a shallow drill hole on the underside of one corner [different corner?]. Accretions, some in the shape of rootlets are scattered over much of the surface and are heavier on the underside because the top has been mechanically cleaned in modern times. There is erosion along the grain boundaries over most of the object. Numerous red particles on the raised edge of the rolled border, as well as red and blue particles scattered throughout, were found to be modern pigments.
Seán Hemingway, Dorothy Abramitis, Federico Carò
Artwork Details
- Title: Marble palette
- Period: Early Cycladic I
- Date: ca. 3200–2700 BCE
- Culture: Cycladic
- Medium: Marble
- Dimensions: Height: 1 3/16 in. (3 cm)
Width: 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
Length: 3 15/16 in. (10 cm)
Thickness: 7/16 in. (1.1 cm) - Classification: Stone Sculpture
- Credit Line: Leonard N. Stern Collection, Loan from the Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Culture
- Object Number: L.2022.38.92
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art