Alabastron Ancient Egypt. Ptolemaic, 323-30 B.C.

Alabastron Ancient Egypt. Ptolemaic, 323-30 BC.
Alabaster.
Provenance: Private collection, J.Martà , Barcelona. Acquired at the Barcelona art market in 2014. Former private collection, England. Acquired in 1980.
Conservation: Intact, except for the upper flat lip which has three broken lines.
Measurements. 23.5 cm. high.
As is usual with alabastron vases, this one, from the Ptolemaic period, has an ellipsoidal body, slightly elongated and with a rounded base, a narrow neck (for pouring out the contents drop by drop) and a wide mouth to allow the oil to be applied to the skin. It has no handles. Its origin dates back to around 1000 BC, in Ancient Egypt, as opaque glass or alabaster vessels, they were also made in Assyria in 600 BC, and in the 2nd century BC in Syria and Canaan. It spread through Ancient Greece to other parts of the classical world. Although they usually lack handles, in many cases they have a pierced ear that allows a string to be inserted to facilitate handling.