Cosmetic set of Kohl Tube and Applicator, Razor, Tweezers, Whetstone, and Mirror

New Kingdom
ca. 1550–1458 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 114
In 1908-1914, Howard Carter and the Earl of Carnarvon excavated in a section of the Theban necropolis known as lower Asasif. This area contained a Middle Kingdom tomb with a huge courtyard that was reused as a cemetery for about a century between late Dynasty 17 and the early joint reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III in Dynasty 18 (ca. 1575-1475 B.C.). Carter and Carnarvon excavated half of the cemetery before moving on the Valley of the Kings. In 1915-1916, the Museum’s Egyptian Expedition excavated the other half. The objects displayed in gallery 114 come from both of these excavations.

This toiletry set includes a tube for the eye cosmetic kohl, a razor, tweezers, a whetstone, and a mirror. The objects were in a rush basket found during the Carter/Carnarvon excavations.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Cosmetic set of Kohl Tube and Applicator, Razor, Tweezers, Whetstone, and Mirror
  • Period: New Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 18, early
  • Reign: reign of Ahmose–Joint reign
  • Date: ca. 1550–1458 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Asasif, Tomb CC 37, Hall (C), burial 16, Carnarvon/Carter excavations, 1911
  • Medium: Bronze or copper alloy, stone, ivory, wood
  • Dimensions: mirror (26.7.837a): L. 9.1 cm (3 9/16 in); W. 6.8 cm (2 11/16 in)
    razor (26.7.837b): L. 18.4 cm (7 1/4 in.); W. 2.2 cm (7/8 in.); Th. 0.1 cm (1/16 in.)
    tweezers (26.7.837c): L. 7.2 cm (2 13/16 in); W. 1.3 cm (1/2 in); H. 0.7 cm (1/4 in)
    whetstone (26.7.837d): L. 9.9 cm (3 7/8 in); W. 1.8 cm (11/16 in); H. 1 cm (3/8 in)
    kohl tube (26.7.1447): h. 7.8 cm (3 1/16 in)
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926
  • Object Number: 26.7.837-related
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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