Egyptian-Art-Inspired Cosmetic Vessels

Clay Sculpture

Art in Ancient Egypt

• Although the main point of creating art in Ancient Egypt was to preserve life after death, Egyptians also surrounded themselves with beautiful objects to enhance their lives in this world

• Cosmetic vessels are one example of these beautiful objects

Two Vases in the Shape of a Mother Monkey with Her Young, Old Kingdom, Dynasty 6, reign of Merenre I, ca. 2255–2246 B.C.

Egyptian alabaster; H. 7 1/4 in.

Intended to hold perfumed oils

Reflects commerce as Egypt began totrade with nearby areas, nowSudan and Ethiopia

Monkeys were not originallynative to Egypt, but rather, were brought there through trade

Cosmetic Jar in the Form of a Cat, Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, ca. 1991–1783 B.C., Egyptian alabaster (calcite) with inlaid eyes

of rock crystal and copper; H. 5 1/2 in.

Egyptians were known for domesticating cats

This is the first known 3D artwork of a cat

It was a cosmetic jar meant to hold scented oil

Incredibly lifelike: looks like a tense, alert, hunter

The eyes are made of rock crystal with drill holes at the back that were filled with pigment, creating a startlingly lifelike impression

The eye sockets were lined with copper, which corroded to form a heavy green rim

Assignment

• Design your own “cosmetic vessel”• The focus here is on aesthetics more than

function – Your sculpture doesn’t have to be functional; it

can be metaphorical• It doesn’t actually have to hold liquids or solids

effectively

– It doesn’t have to be a cup, vase, teapot, etc. – But as it is a “vessel”, it should be mostly hollow

Assignment

• It would be ideal if your form could represent in some way what you intend it to hold

• The main goal is to sculpt from reality and do something creative with it– The Egyptians were very observant of nature and the

things around them in their art, even if it seems unrealistic to you, it was very advanced at the time

– Whatever you choose to sculpt, refer to real objects, animals, people, etc. to help you make it convincing, even if the overall product is “fantastical”

Animal Inspiration

Animal Inspiration

Animal Inspiration

Animal Inspiration

Animal Inspiration

Animal Inspiration

Animal Inspiration

Animal Inspiration

Animal Inspiration

Animal Inspiration

Inspiration from Nature

Inspiration from Nature

Inspiration from Nature

Human Inspiration

Inspiration from Objects

Inspiration from Objects

Inspiration from Objects

Inspiration from Objects

Inspiration from Objects