Bactrian, ca. 2000 B.C.

Alabaster

H: 9 cm (3.54 in)

Serial: 35601

Provenance: The Gilbert collection, Cambridge, Massachusetts, acquired in London, 1 December 2001

The container has the shape of a frustoconical cup supported by a small circular base. It is impressive for its perfect shape, its very thin wall, and its "decoration", due solely to the natural veins and color of the stone. The stonemason was able to choose an alabaster block based on its appearance before digging and scrubbing to get a beautiful result, a unique and impossible method to repeat. As early as the Neolithic period, stone ware occupied a very important economic purpose in the Middle East and Egypt as the main vessels for conservation of substances, rituals, and exchanges of presents.