Egyptian Predynastic Naqada III Basalt Vessel

Ancient Egypt, Predynastic period, Naqada III, ca. 3200 to 3000 BCE. An attractive jar of a squat form, hand-carved from basalt of a dark brown, nearly black hue. The ovoid body rests upon a flat base and has a carinated midsection, a thin rim, a deep interior cavity, and a pair of pierced lug handles situated on the shoulder. The exterior surfaces boast incredible smoothness that creates a pleasing tactile texture, and the interior still bears evidence of the original circular drilling striations. Size: 2.4" W x 2.875" H (6.1 cm x 7.3 cm).

In addition to its striking presentation, this jar represents a technological leap forward for the ancient Egyptians. In the early Pre-Dynastic, artisans hollowed out hard stone vessels using hand-held stone borers and abrasive desert sand. Then, during the Naqada II period (ca. 3600 to 3200 BCE), the invention of copper tubes enabled artisans to drill very hard stones (in conjunction with sand as an abrasive) and create more intricate forms or integral details like the lugged handles on this example. However, copper drills only allowed artisans to drill cylindrical items, and so the hollowing out of bulbous vessels like this one still required use of an elongated stone borer in the form of a figure-of-eight.

A stylistically similar example of a larger size hammered for $6,900 at Christie's, New York, Park Avenue "Antiquities" auction (sale 9020, December 18, 1998, lot 1).

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private European collection, London, UK and Paris, France, acquired in 1960

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#149706
Condition Report: Chips and losses to rim, with light encrustations within interior, and one lengthy but stable fissure stemming from rim. Light earthen deposits throughout, and wonderful smoothness along exterior surfaces.