Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A fine vessel carved from pale-yellow alabaster with faint beige-hued veining throughout. The piriform body is supported atop a petite circular base, with a rounded shoulder boasting a pair of pierced lug handles with elegantly-flared lower terminals, a corseted neck line, and a flat everted rim which perhaps at one time held a lid. The conical interior cavity was drilled out using stone and copper bits with coarse sand as an abrasive, and traces of the original drill striations are still visible within. Size: 3.75" W x 3.3" H (9.5 cm x 8.4 cm).
The Egyptians were master carvers, and used the abundant stone deposits in the Nile Valley and the Eastern Sahara throughout their history to fashion sculptures, vessels, and monumental buildings. The perfect symmetry of this example demonstrates their skill. The piece was drilled into, then special tools were used to expand the drilled-upon areas, allowing the walls of the vessel to be thin enough that light could pass through the stone. The alabastron was a very personal item, used for bathing and holding perfume. As a result, it was frequently buried with its owner.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA
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#146206
Condition
Original lid missing. Small chips to rim, with light abrasions to body and base, and minor encrustations. Light earthen deposits throughout.