Lot 19
Ancient Egypt, Middle Kingdom to Late Dynastic Period, 12th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 1991 to 332 BCE. An alabaster jar featuring a graceful piriform silhouette. Highly prized in ancient Egypt for its translucent quality, alabaster emits a warm glow when backlit, a feature beautifully demonstrated by this vessel, which reveals natural banding when illuminated from within. Crafted from a single piece of stone, the jar was initially drilled and then expanded using specialized tools. This shaping process may have involved handwork or primitive rotary tools, such as a bow drill, which generated friction to power a rotating stone bit. Grooves encircling the interior suggest carving techniques utilizing either the bow drill method or a lathe - a tool known to have been used in Egypt as early as 1300 BCE. Alabaster's beauty and durability made it a favored material for creating containers for precious oils, perfumes, and ceremonial items, including canopic jars used in embalming. Size: 4" Diameter x 5" H (10.2 cm x 12.7 cm)
Provenance: private London, UK collection; ex-private A.D. collection, London, UK, since the 1990s
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 and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions.
#190142
-
Condition:
- Repaired with break line extending from rim to base. Infill material added to fissure to reinforce and fill gaps. A few other surface chips throughout.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 27.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |