Ancient Egyptian Alabaster Alabastron, Spanish Export License - 13.5 cm

Beautiful alabastron with a small solid vertical lug handle on each side of the upper body. The neck is finished with a wide, thin disc edge. A shallow horizontal ridge on the upper body marks the transition from the lower neck to the body. For technical reasons, they were manufactured separately and then assembled.
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Vessels made of alabaster were very popular in the ancient Near East, Egypt, Greece and Rome. This alabastron served to contain and to transport precious perfumed oils. Because of its modest size it was probably designed for personal cosmetic use rather than for temple or funerary rituals.
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The alabastron was made with thin walls and is highly polished.
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Origin Former private collection United Kingdom. Purchased in 2022 from a UK auction house.
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