Cosmetic Box from the tomb of Sennedjem
New Kingdom, Ramesside
The lid of this box, which is attached at the back with horizontal pivots, opens to reveal four compartments for cosmetics. The box could be secured by winding a piece of twine around the two knobs at the front. Its elaborate decoration was intended to imitate more expensive boxes inlaid with ebony, ivory, and perhaps cedar or mahogany.
The box is from the tomb of Sennedjem, who was an artist living in the time of Ramesses II. Other objects in the collection that were discovered in the same tomb can be viewed here.