Staff or representatives of Harrogate Museums and Arts service
Title
Egyptian giant clam shell paint holder
Description
Shell of the Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) from the Red Sea reused as a container for red paint made form ochre (iron oxide), plant oil and plant gum, a similar recipe to that used in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Thebes. Egyptians often used natural objects to store paint and cosmetics, such as in this case a shell. The paint found in this shell could have been used by draughtsmen to sketch out guidelines of carvings for stonemasons as well as to detail rough outlines of figures on tomb walls.
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Under the following conditions:
attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
share alike – If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same or compatible license as the original.