Ca. 1st millennium BC. A delightful cast bronze vessel for holding kohl. It features a flattened, round body, a long tubular neck with a flat and broad rim, and four bent legs, each with a knob-like little foot. Kohl is a type of black powder or paste made by grinding stibnite and used to darken the eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows. It was popular among many cultures from antiquity to the present. In the Ancient Near East, kohl was often used as a form of cosmetic to enhance beauty, although it was also believed to ward off evil spirits and provide protection from the sun.Size: L:90mm / W:60mm ; 140gProvenance: Private UK collection; From an old British collection formed in the 1990s.