Ancient Egypt, Early Dynastic, First to Second Dynasty, ca. 3000 to 2686 BCE. A stunning example of a greywacke bowl, dark grey and with wonderful age deposits, with a central depression marked out by a deep incision and a slightly inverted rim. This stone dish was made for offerings and would have been placed into a tomb - indeed, Egyptians had been placing stone vessels in elite tombs from as early as the Naqada I culture (ca. 4400 to 3000 BCE). Stone vessels like this one were created to contain valuable items - food, beverages, unguents, perfumes - and the vessels themselves were similarly valuable, ornamental and luxury objects. The extraction of stone from mines, the transportation of it from mines to workshops, and the craftsmanship required to make such beautiful items were expensive, and only the most elite individuals in society could pay. As a result, most have been found in the Early Dynastic royal necropolis of Abydos and in cemeteries in Memphis. Size: 10.7" W (27.2 cm); 10.9" H (27.7 cm) on included custom stand.

See a similar example that sold at Christie's for GBP 8750 in 2014 (approximately $12,000 USD): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/an-egyptian-greywacke-bowl-early-dynastic-period-5826604-details.aspx

Provenance: private Connecticut, USA collection; ex-Jaques Hollander (1940-2004), Belgium

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#146718

Repaired from five or six pieces. Repairs are very well done and unobtrusive and no new material has been added to the body aside from adhesive. Beautiful deposits on surface with excellent preservation of form and detail. Back side has some adhesive marks from old collection labels.