Selection of Egyptian Alabaster Cosmetic Vessels

£ 250.00

A selection of fine Egyptian alabaster cosmetic vessels, dating to the Middle Kingdom Period, of varying heights and shapes. Each vessel sits on a flat circular base and opens to a rounded mouth with a flat rim. The alabaster on all the cosmetic vessels is beige in colour with natural bands and striations of white, cream, and brown.

INDIVIDUALLY PRICED.

Date: Circa 2050–1650 BC
Period: Middle Kingdom Period
Provenance: From a private collection, London & Geneva, pre-1988.
Condition: Fine condition. Earthly encrustations to all the vessels. Minor chips to the rims of the vessel, some to the base, as consistent with its age.
£ 250.00
Choice of Item A B C
Clear selection
SKU: ES-215 Categories: ,

In Ancient Egypt, alabaster jars were used as containers for ointment, perfume, and other cosmetic products, such as kohl. The alabaster used by ancient civilisations in the ancient Near East, including the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilisations, is often referred to as “oriental alabaster”, which is a type of calcite. Due to its easy carving characteristic and resemblance to marble, many ancient peoples used alabaster for decoration. Although alabaster’s soft and slightly porous stone made it easy to carve, the upshot was that it would not survive for significant periods of time when exposed to the natural elements. The name “alabaster” is thought to have derived from the Ancient Egyptian, ‘a-labaste‘, which refers to the vessels of the goddess, Bast. She is usually depicted as a lioness, her figure often sitting atop alabaster vessels.

Weight N/A
Dimensions cm
Region

North Africa

Stone

Alabaster

Choice of Item

A, B, C

Reference: For a similar item, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Item 26.7.1442

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