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ERICH LESSING/ART RESOURCE, NY

LUXURIOUS PHOENICIAN WARES. The Phoenicians shipped luxurious goods throughout the Mediterranean world. During the Iron Age, two of their chief decorated exports were cosmetic palettes used to mix paints and powders and Tridacna squamosa shells that served as cosmetic holders. This shell features an engraved female head on its apex and two deteriorated winged sphinxes, lotus buds and flowers carved on its lower interior edge.