3 - AN EGYPTIAN OR PHOENICIAN BANDED ALABASTER VASE, CIRCA 7TH – 6TH CENTURY BC

AN EGYPTIAN OR PHOENICIAN BANDED ALABASTER VASE, CIRCA 7TH – 6TH CENTURY BC Eastern Mediterranean. Masterfully carved and hollowed, the baluster body gently tapering to the flat base, rising through high-angled shoulders to a short, waisted neck with a flat rim and a circular mouth. The finely polished, semi-translucent stone exhibits soft shades of luminous honey-amber, enlivened by whitish horizontal bands of varying thickness. The base vertically drilled, with a narrow channel extending towards the rim. Provenance: Michael Barber Fine Asian Art, Chicago, United States. Previously in a European private collection. Condition: Very good condition, with expected wear, traces of weathering and erosion, old chips, and minor nibbling along the rim. The stone with natural fissures, some of which may have developed into fine hairline cracks. Weight: 4.6 kg Dimensions: Height 25.3 cm This highly sculptural vessel resembles the much smaller metal ewers with spouts that Egyptians used, together with matching basins, for washing their hands before meals and pouring libations for deities and the deceased. Here, the utilitarian form has been enlarged and translated into stone to ensure an eternal supply of water for a high-ranking member of the nobility or royal court, to whom this vessel must have surely belonged. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 9 December 2015, lot 132 Price: USD 15,000 or approx. EUR 18,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: An Egyptian or Phoenician alabaster vase, circa 7th century BC Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving, and stone. Note the nearly identical size (25.1 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams London, 29 March 2017, lot 34 Price: GBP 8,750 or approx. EUR 14,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: An Egyptian banded alabaster jar, Late Period, circa 664-332 BC Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving, and stone. Note the similar size (29 cm).