Egyptian Pre-Dynastic Marble Ovoid Jar, ex-Royal-Athena
Ancient Egypt, Pre-Dynastic Period, late Naqada II to early Naqada III, ca. 3200 BCE. A stunning ovoid jar with an elegant presentation evocative of ancient Egypt. The vessel is hand-carved from sumptuous brecciated marble with deep red-brown veining coursing throughout the pale-yellow stone. A petite circular base supports the piriform body which tapers gently at the shoulders towards a flat, lipped mouth which likely held a small lid. Two pierced lug handles are situated equidistantly around the upper body and allow the vessel to be transported when not in use. The interior cavity is drilled out and drops roughly three-quarters of the way down, leaving enough material to weigh down the base. With its highly polished surface and exquisite form, this is a sublime example of early Egyptian craftsmanship! Size: 3" W x 3.375" H (7.6 cm x 8.6 cm)
In the early Pre-Dynastic period, artisans hollowed out hard stone vessels using hand-held stone borders and abrasive desert sand. Then, during the Naqada II period (ca. 3600 to 3200 BCE), the invention of copper tubes used to drill very hard stone (in conjunction with sand as an abrasive), allowed people to drill finer forms - like the interior of this vessel. In the Naqada III period, people developed stone borers that allowed them to expand beyond a drilled channel, so the shape of this vessel suggests that its makers did not yet have access to that technology.
A stylistically similar example, of a slightly larger size, hammered for GBP 8,750 ($11,469.81) at Christie's, London "Antiquities" auction (sale 10372, April 15, 2015, lot 16).
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-private New Jersey, USA collection, acquired from Royal-Athena Gallery, New York, New York, USA; ex-private Monnier collection, Paris, France; ex-private J.M.E. collection, New York, USA, acquired in February, 1996 at the Drouot, Paris, France
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#152862 Dimensions: Condition Report: Original lid missing. Minor nicks and abrasions to body and interior rim commensurate with age, otherwise intact and near choice. Light earthen deposits within interior cavity. Old inventory label beneath base.
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Ancient Egypt, Pre-Dynastic Period, late Naqada II to early Naqada III, ca. 3200 BCE. A stunning ovoid jar with an elegant presentation evocative of ancient Egypt. The vessel is hand-carved from sumptuous brecciated marble with deep red-brown veining coursing throughout the pale-yellow stone. A petite circular base supports the piriform body which tapers gently at the shoulders towards a flat, lipped mouth which likely held a small lid. Two pierced lug handles are situated equidistantly around the upper body and allow the vessel to be transported when not in use. The interior cavity is drilled out and drops roughly three-quarters of the way down, leaving enough material to weigh down the base. With its highly polished surface and exquisite form, this is a sublime example of early Egyptian craftsmanship! Size: 3" W x 3.375" H (7.6 cm x 8.6 cm)
In the early Pre-Dynastic period, artisans hollowed out hard stone vessels using hand-held stone borders and abrasive desert sand. Then, during the Naqada II period (ca. 3600 to 3200 BCE), the invention of copper tubes used to drill very hard stone (in conjunction with sand as an abrasive), allowed people to drill finer forms - like the interior of this vessel. In the Naqada III period, people developed stone borers that allowed them to expand beyond a drilled channel, so the shape of this vessel suggests that its makers did not yet have access to that technology.
A stylistically similar example, of a slightly larger size, hammered for GBP 8,750 ($11,469.81) at Christie's, London "Antiquities" auction (sale 10372, April 15, 2015, lot 16).
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-private New Jersey, USA collection, acquired from Royal-Athena Gallery, New York, New York, USA; ex-private Monnier collection, Paris, France; ex-private J.M.E. collection, New York, USA, acquired in February, 1996 at the Drouot, Paris, France
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#152862 Dimensions: Condition Report: Original lid missing. Minor nicks and abrasions to body and interior rim commensurate with age, otherwise intact and near choice. Light earthen deposits within interior cavity. Old inventory label beneath base.
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