RARE KOHOL VASE SHOWING A KNEELING GIRL Egypt,... Lot 7

RARE KOHOL VASE SHOWING A KNEELING GIRL Egypt, Middle Kingdom, 12th dynasty, 1985-1785 BC Steatite. Under the base, old inventory label "714 / TOD". H_ 8,5 cm Provenance Former French private collection, circa 1970 Private Parisian collection, acquired from the R.B.A. gallery, December 3, 1989 AN EGYPTIAN STEATITE KOHL VASE FIGURING A KNEELING YOUNG WOMAN, DYNASTY 12TH, 1985-1785 B.C. 3,3 in. High. Black steatite statuette on a rectangular base depicting a kneeling girl resting her buttocks on her heels and clasping a kohl pot. The pot has a ribbed rim and supported on a surelevated discoidal base. The girl's head is smooth (presumably shaved) except for a long, wide plait of hair which falls from the back of the head down her back. The plait curls to the right. The facial features are characterized by proeminent large ears, wide lips, nose short with wide nostrils and almond-shaped eyes, hallmarks of the Middle-Kingdom sculpture. The face is broad, youthful but not noticeably feminine. The body, on the other hand is more feminie, with pointed breasts, narrow waist and larger hips. She wears a short kilt from waist to calf. This charming object is a highly ornamental container for cosmetics. The kohl pot which the girl offers was intended for use, shows signs of wear and probably once had a matching and close-fitting lid. This statuette rests on a rectangular base and depicts a kneeling girl resting her buttocks on her heels and clutching a kohl pot. The pot has a ribbed rim and rests on a raised disc-shaped base. The girl's head is topped (presumably shaved) with a long, wide braid of hair that runs from the back of her head to her back. The tail of the braid curls to the right. The facial features are characterized by large, prominent ears, wide lips, a short nose with large nostrils and almond-shaped eyes, which are characteristic of medieval statuary. The face is large, young but not very feminine. The body, on the other hand, is more feminine, with pointed breasts, a slim waist and wider hips. She is simply dressed in a short loincloth. This valuable object is an ornamental vase for cosmetics. The kohl pot given by the girl was intended to be used, and furthermore shows signs of wear that attest to the use of this vessel. It probably once had a matching, tight-fitting lid. There are few examples of cosmetic vases from this period with human figures. Only about ten have been identified, including one in the British Museum There are only about ten examples, including one in the British Museum, inv. EA2572 (fig.1) and another one in the National Museum of Beirut found during the excavations of the Temple of the Obelisks in Byblos by Maurice Dunand (fig.2), attesting to the exchanges between the great politico-religious centres of the Bronze Age and to the close relations between Egypt and the Levant.