Ancient Egypt, Early Dynastic Period, 1st to 2nd Dynasty, ca. 3100 to 2686 BCE. A gorgeous vase of a slender form that is hand-carved from translucent, honey-yellow alabaster with darker, opaque veining visible within the stone matrix. The cylindrical vessel features a planar base, a gently corseted body, and a lightly flared shoulder accentuated with a segmented, cord-patterned ring in relief, all beneath a thick, annular rim. The deep interior cavity was drilled out using a series of progressively finer drill bits and copious amounts of abrasive sand, and evidence of the ancient drilling is still visible along the bottom surfaces. Size: 3.375" W x 8.4" H (8.6 cm x 21.3 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. Alabaster vessels were often personal items and were frequently buried with their owners.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession numbers 01.4.86 and 12.181.109

Provenance: private Corpus Christi, Texas, USA estate collection, acquired 1960s to 1970s

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#165117

Repair to large area of rim and upper shoulder from multiple pieces, with a couple of stable hairline fissures stemming from broken areas, and small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Abrasions and encrustations to most interior and exterior surfaces. Nice translucency to stone color when light is shined inside interior. Old inventory labels on base.