Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Bottle with Openwork Shell

ca. 1075–712 B.C.E.

1 of 11

Object Label

Egyptian blue is a copper-calcium tetrasilicate that the ancient Egyptians pulverized, mixed into a paste, and used to fashion objects fired at a low temperature. Seldom were those objects as large as this vessel, a technical masterpiece made of several parts. The rim and the base are shaped like lotus flowers, symbols of birth and rebirth, and the shell is adorned with images of deities in a setting represented by architectural columns.

Caption

Bottle with Openwork Shell, ca. 1075–712 B.C.E.. Egyptian blue, 6 11/16 x greatest diam. 2 15/16 in. (17 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 44.175. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Title

Bottle with Openwork Shell

Date

ca. 1075–712 B.C.E.

Period

Third Intermediate Period

Geography

Place made: Upper Egypt, Egypt

Medium

Egyptian blue

Classification

Vessel

Dimensions

6 11/16 x greatest diam. 2 15/16 in. (17 x 7.5 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

44.175

Frequent Art Questions

  • Do you know the original function of this piece?

    This piece was originally intended to be decorative! It is made from a material called Egyptian blue and is surprisingly large for the material.

  • Son originales o Réplicas?

    Si, todos son originales!

  • Tell me more.

    This openwork bottle is really a remarkable piece! Egyptian blue was typically used as a pigment (the first synthetic pigment!), and it is very rare to see it as a larger, stand-alone object.
    You can also tell that it is an object of luxury because it clearly only serves a decorative, or possibly symbolic purpose. It wouldn't have been able to hold anything!

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