Ancient Egyptian scribes used wooden palettes, like this one, to hold their ink and brishes. There are still substantial remnants of the black ink on this palette, but the red is almost gone. The brushes are reeds with one end frayed to hold the ink.
The design of scribal palettes changed little over time as may be seen by comparing this one, from the Middle Kingdom to another, 47.123a–g, which dates to the New Kingdom.
Link to a blog about scribes in Ancient Egypt
Showing Signs: Hieroglyphs and Palettes in the Stela of Irtisen
Credit: Rogers Fund, 1910
c. 2030-1550 BC
Wood, pigment
13.6in
10.176.62
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2020
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection