Egypt, Late Period, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A large banded alabaster vessel that may contain some percentage of calcite to increase its hardness -- pure alabaster, a fine-grained cohesive variety of gypsum, can be scratched with a fingernail. The vessel displays a wide flat base, piriform body, and flared lip which are characteristically of the ancient Late Egyptian style. While opaque under normal conditions, a light placed on its surface or inside the large body cavity reveals a myriad of orange, brown, and gold-hued mineral bands which would otherwise go unnoticed. Several rows of horizontal carving lines can be seen on the interior of the vessel and are consistent with the arduous grinding process needed to hollow the interior. Size: 3.625" W x 4.75" H (9.2 cm x 12.1 cm).

Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection, acquired over twenty years ago

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#121523

Surface wear commensurate with age and use, minor chips and losses to rim and body, and mineral deposits throughout.