Faience Cosmetic Box

This is a blue-green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 cosmetic box at the MET that is in the shape of a column. While the exact date of the box is unknown, this type of column style was popular during the Ptolemaic Period (c. 664-300 B.C.E.), hence why archaeologists think it is from that time period. The reason why the date of the cosmetic box is undetermined is because finding boxes like this is very rare! 

These type of cosmetic boxes (where two 𓏻 pieces are attached by a peg that allows it to swing open and closed) are more commonly found in the shape of spoons or boxes and are usually dated to the New Kingdom. The stains on the inside of this box indicate that it may have contained ointment 𓌸𓎛𓏏𓎯𓃋 at one point! 

While many noble people𓃝𓏤𓀻𓀻𓀻/aristocrats would have had cosmetic boxes, this one is believed to have been used in a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 ritual due to the fact that it looks like a column from a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐!