alabastron (likely) | British Museum

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alabastron(likely)

Object Type
Museum number: EA68859
Description: Fragment of the rounded base of a vessel carved from calcite, likely an alabastron; polished surface.
Cultures/periods: Late Period; 27th Dynasty (early); 26th Dynasty (end)
Production date: 550 BC - 450 BC (probably)
Production place: Made in: Naukratis
Excavator/field collector
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot: Naukratis (?)
Materials
Technique: carved; polished
Dimensions: Diameter: 6.80 centimetres (max); Height: 4.90 centimetres (max); Thickness: 5.50 centimetres
Curator's comments: Naukratis provided a wide range of vessels in calcite, chiefly alabastra. Evidence for a local production of calcite vessels is given by the discovery of “many thousands of alabaster drill cores from tubular drilling” as well as unfinished vessels in the same material found in the temenos of Apollo in 1885, between the temple and the north-west corner of the temenos (Petrie 1886, 15). Most of these vessels should be dated to the second half of the 6th or latest first half of the 5th century BC. This specimen could be a fragmentary example of these locally produced alabastra. Petrie, W. M. F. 1886, Naukratis. Part I., 1884-5 (Memoir of the Egypt Exploration Fund 3), London.
Bibliographic references
Location: Not on display
Condition: fair (incomplete)
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1888
Department: Egypt and Sudan
BM/Big number: EA68859
Registration number: 1888,0601.18