Egyptian Late Period Alabaster Alabastron

Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A gorgeous example of an alabastron, hand-carved from banded alabaster, with colors ranging from a creamy beige to a buttery yellow, that illuminates which held under a bright light. The drop-form body has a rounded base, a tapering shoulder with a pair of pierced lug handles, a lightly-corseted neck, and a plateaued rim with a drilled central opening. A sturdy and attractive example of fine Egyptian artistry! Size: 2" W x 5.1" H (5.1 cm x 13 cm); 5.5" H (14 cm) on included custom stand.

The Egyptians were master carvers, and used the abundant stone deposits in the Nile Valley and the Eastern Sahara throughout their history to fashion sculptures, vessels, and monumental buildings. The perfect symmetry of this example demonstrates their skill. The piece was drilled into, then special tools were used to expand the drilled-upon areas, allowing the walls of the vessel to illuminate when light passed through the stone. The alabastron was a very personal item, used for bathing and holding perfume. As a result, it was frequently buried with its owner.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Dr. Sid Port collection, California, USA, acquired in the 1980s

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#146899
Condition Report: Repair to both handles, with small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Minor abrasions and nicks to base, body, handles, and rim, with light encrustations within some recessed areas. Light earthen deposits throughout.