The interior of the bowl, as well as the top area of the item’s exterior, depict a hunting scene, where a few men attack large animals. The exterior bottom and the interior center of the bowl also incorporate animals, namely bulls, however, the men are not present in the scenes. The imagery of the bowl displays motifs of different cultures – Near Eastern and Egyptian. The major difference between the two cultural elements presented in the bowl lies in the diverse depictions of the huntsmen and the choice of illustrated animals. The inside of the item incorporates bulls which were more prevalent in the Near Eastern geographical area rather than in Egypt.
In contrast, the motifs conveyed in the top half of the bowl’s exterior depict Egyptian motifs. This is evident from the imagery of lions being the victim of the hunt. In Egypt, bulls were considered sacred animals, alongside cats and ibises, which is why the culture’s people were not allowed to hunt down these creatures. Instead, the scenery depicts lions which are being attacked by two people at the same time, in order to illustrate the danger of the large animal. Moreover, the top half of the bowl’s exterior displays elements of classical folklore of ancient Egypt, such as animals with wings that are commonly depicted in the culture’s art.
Considering the color of the material the bowl is covered with, it is likely that the owner of the artifact was not a member of the working class but rather a wealthy individual who valued uniqueness and luxury. Firstly, the maker of the bowl clearly paid much attention to the item, which suggests that a poor peasant would not be able to afford it. In ancient times there was no tradition of mass marketing and most pieces were unique. Secondly, the golden leaf of the bowl’s surface and the intricate detail of its imagery hint not only at the potential individuality of the piece but also at its complexity. Clearly, only a professional master would be able to achieve such quality of an item, and the cost would be respectively high. Therefore, only a wealthy individual would be able to afford such a piece.