Red-figure lid of lekane
| Misure | h 4,5; ø 7,6 |
| Stato | intero |
| Luogo e cronologia | Salentino - Tomb. 25. Second half of the 4th century BC. |
Preparations were used for facial makeup. To whiten the complexion, according to the aesthetic standards of the period, a preparation containing white lead (lead carbonate) was used; to colour cheeks and lips, they used red ochre, the red of minium (orange-coloured lead oxide) or the one obtained from vegetable pigments or from the alkanna (a sea algae).
A layer of black antimony powder was applied over eyelashes and eyebrows.
A more flamboyant and striking make-up, underlining the eyes and eyebrows with bistre, was allowed to prostitutes.
The lekane is a small box consisting of a high-footed cup with a lid, which contained the powdered substances for make-up.
In the Apulian world those with the lid decorated with two female heads alternated with palmettes was very widespread.
