Offering cups, such as this beautiful example, have been recovered across Egypt from the New Kingdom onwards, and contained various sacred perfumed oils that were used during both funeral and daily rites. They were often glazed and inscribed with hieroglyphs describing their contents. This little cup would have been a part of an offering tray where it would have been set on a base with similar vessels with various sacred unguents.
Egyptian Faience Offering Cup
£ 495.00
An Ancient Egyptian offering cup made of unglazed faience. The cup comes with a lid that was probably made separately, since it does not perfectly fit on top. The cup is shaped like a chalice on a wide flaring foot and a shallow inner cavity.
Period: New Kingdom-Ptolemaic Period
Condition: Very fine, intact, unglazed surface and minor discolorations to the lid.
Reference: For a similar item, The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 08.200.15b.