Circa 664-332 BC, Late Dynastic Period A fine jar of a squat form, hand-carved from creamy-yellow alabaster with integral tan and white bands coursing throughout. The vessel boasts a flat base, an apple-shaped body with a rounded shoulder, and a thick rim. The drilled interior cavity has a conical shape and would have likely held copious amounts of kohl eye makeup. The exterior of the vessel has been meticulously polished to an aesthetically pleasing texture, making this an exceptional example of skilful Egyptian stone-carving. In Ancient Egypt, alabaster jars were used as containers for ointment, perfume, and other cosmetic products, such as kohl. The alabaster used by ancient civilisations in the wider Middle East (including Egypt and Mesopotamia) is also called “oriental alabaster”, which is a type of calcite. For alabaster vessels of similar style and age see: Hodjash, S.; Ancient Egyptian Vessels, State Pushkin Museum of Fine Art, Moscow. Size: L:93mm / W:84mm; 439g Provenance: From the collection of a London gentleman; formerly acquired in early 2000s; previously in 1970s UK collection.