Cosmetic Vessel in the Shape of a Cat

Middle Kingdom

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 111

The cat first appears in painting and relief at the end of the Old Kingdom, and this cosmetic jar is the earliest-known three-dimensional representation of the animal in Egyptian art. The sculptor demonstrates a keen understanding of the creature's physical traits, giving the animal the alert, tense look of a hunter rather than the elegant aloofness seen in later representations. The rock-crystal eyes, lined with copper, enhance the impression of readiness.

Cosmetic Vessel in the Shape of a Cat, Travertine (Egyptian alabaster), copper, quartz crystal, paint

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Cosmetic Vessel in the Shape of a Cat, Travertine (Egyptian alabaster), copper, quartz crystal, paint
Cosmetic Vessel in the Shape of a Cat, Travertine (Egyptian alabaster), copper, quartz crystal, paint
Cosmetic Vessel in the Shape of a Cat, Travertine (Egyptian alabaster), copper, quartz crystal, paint
Cosmetic Vessel in the Shape of a Cat, Travertine (Egyptian alabaster), copper, quartz crystal, paint

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