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How were cosmetic palettes used in predynastic Egypt?

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Ancient Egyptian illustration from the Book of the Dead showing Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, with gods seated above and hieroglyphic text throughout. — Egyptian art and architecture Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, c. 1275 bce.

In predynastic Egypt, slate or schist palettes were primarily used as functional tools for the preparation of eye paint, such as kohl and malachite-based cosmetics. These palettes are considered the most characteristic luxury objects of the Badarian culture, appearing for the first time during that period.123

As these cultures evolved, the design of the palettes became increasingly elaborate. By the Naqādah II period, they were often crafted with sophisticated outlines in the shapes of animals, birds, or fish. Over time, these objects transitioned from simple grinding surfaces into significant prestige items that featured complex, symbolic two-dimensional representations, such as those seen on the Hunters and Battlefield palettes. This development culminated in ceremonial examples, like the Narmer Palette, which utilized the medium to depict royal power and conquest, establishing conventions that would become central to dynastic Egyptian art.324