Ancient Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom, ca. 305 to 30 BCE. Finely carved from beautiful alabaster, an ovoid vessel with a flat base and tall walls that gently flare to a broad rounded rim. This type of vessel was used to hold cosmetics, as the Egyptians are famous for using cosmetics such as black kohl to accentuate the eyes of both men and women. In addition to its elegant form, the alabaster itself is stunning - presenting warm caramel hues with banding and areas of translucency visible when held to the light. Size: 2.375" in diameter x 2.875" H (6 cm x 7.3 cm)

Alabaster, which is a form of gypsum or calcite, soft to carve and smooth, was quarried along the length of the Nile, from Giza to just south of Luxor. The Egyptians made such carved alabaster vessels famous throughout the ancient world.

Provenance: ex Estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA acquired before 2000

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#157952

Minute nicks to rim and periphery of base. Slight surface wear commensurate with age, but generally excellent.