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On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Tuff palette

ca. 3200–2700 BCE

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 151

Technical analysis: Ultraviolet-induced visible light luminescence examination, optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, micro X-ray diffraction, external reflection Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy.

This palette, carved from a light red and buff banded tuff, a type of volcanic rock, is nearly intact except for minor chips at three of the four end points. The long sides curve up creating a trough shape and five evenly spaced holes are drilled into each of the short sides. These holes would have been used for suspension or affixing it to something. Unlike other perforated palettes, this one is unique for having so many drilled holes.

The interior surface bears evidence of an organic deposit rich in fibers.

Sandy MacGillivray, Wendy Walker, Federico Carò, Adriana Rizzo

(1) For trough-shaped palettes, see Getz-Gentle, Pat. 1996. Stone Vessels of the Cyclades in the Early Bronze Age. pp. 88-01, University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1996.

Tuff palette, Tuff, Cycladic — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Tuff palette, Tuff, Cycladic

Tuff palette, Tuff, Cycladic

Tuff palette, Tuff, Cycladic

Tuff palette, Tuff, Cycladic

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Ultraviolet-induced visible luminescence (UVL) reveals a possible consolidant covering a raised white material on the palette’s surface.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Ultraviolet-induced visible luminescence (UVL) reveals a possible consolidant covering a raised white material on the palette’s surface.

Title: Tuff palette

Period: Early Cycladic I

Date: ca. 3200–2700 BCE

Culture: Cycladic

Medium: Tuff

Dimensions: 1 × 3 1/8 × 7 3/4 in. (2.6 × 7.9 × 19.7 cm)

Classification: Stone Sculpture

Credit Line: Leonard N. Stern Collection, Loan from the Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Culture

Object Number: L.2022.38.152

The Met

Greek and Roman Art at The Met

The Museum's collection of Greek and Roman art comprises more than 30,000 works ranging in date from the Neolithic period to the time of the Roman emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity in A.D. 312.