13 - Monolithic alabaster vase with a slightly ovoid globular shape

Monolithic alabaster vase with a slightly ovoid globular shape Carved from the stone and resting on a small, flattened base. The full, harmonious body displays three broad horizontal registers, perceptible through subtle breaks in profile, highlighting the natural stratification of the stone. The opening, with its wide, open neck, is carved into a thick, circular ridge marked by ancient wear, chipping, and uniform abrasion of the inner rim, evidence of long use. The interior walls are carefully hollowed into a deep cavity with a rounded bottom, preserving tool marks and a matte patina darker than the exterior. The exterior surface, honey-beige in tone with whitish inclusions and more opaque veins, exhibits an ancient polish softened by time, with micro-bumps, scratches, and small altered areas. The reverse shows an old fracture, altered and consolidated within the stone. A prestigious vessel intended to hold precious or ritual substances. As is. Alabaster. Egypt. Old Kingdom, around the 3rd-5th dynasties, circa 2700-2400 BC. Height 8 cm x diameter 5 cm. Lot in international warehouse (within the EU). Intra-EU shipment: no import duties apply within the EU. Export permit from the country of origin may be required.