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Cosmetic Palettes

Cosmetic palettes were used to prepare make up. They are often found together with pebbles which were used to grind the ore as pigment for make up (for example: malachite, galena)

The earliest cosmetic palettes are attested at Merimde, El Omari and at Fayum Neolithic . The forms are rather simple.

palette belonging to Fayum Neolithic
in the Badarian cultures the palettes often have a rectangular shape

The palettes of the Naqada culture show different kind of forms
there are mostly made of siltstone (not slate as often stated)

Common types of palettes in the Naqada period

Naqada          
I
       
II
     
     
III
   
     

palettes of this type and material disappear in the First Dynasty

further reading


 

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