Sumerian Gold Bowl in the University of Pennsylvania Museum, November 2009

Bowl
Gold
2550-2450 BCE
Ur, Iraq (PG800, Tomb Chamber)

B17693

These gold containers were found in Queen Puabi's tomb chamber. The oval shape of the two bowls is a common metal vessel form. The fluted bowl shares many design elements with the fluted tumbler, and they may be thought of as a set. The cosmetic container, shaped as a cockleshell, was filled with a green pigment. The pieces are in such good condition because gold is a stable metal.

Text from two U. Penn. Museum labels.


Gold

Gold would have been imported from Anatolia, Iran, and the Indus valley. At Ur, golden objects are almost always made of alloys of gold and coppper or gold and silver. Pure gold is extremely rare. This is probably both because gold was a scarce and precious commodity, and because the color and appearance of the alloys was preferred. Gold and copper alloy is reddish, whild gold and silver (electrum) is silvery.

Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.