Bowl

Art Historical Context

This delicate travertine bowl, crafted around 3100–2649 B.C. during Egypt's Early Dynastic PeriodDynasty 2), the dawn of pharaonic civilization. Measuring just 3 11/16 inches (9.3 cm) in height, it was fashioned from Egyptian alabaster—a soft, translucent stone quarried near the Nile, prized for its luminous quality and ease of carving. Such vessels were hollowed using bow-driven drills and abrasives, showcasing early mastery of stoneworking techniques that transitioned Egypt from predynastic pottery to enduring luxury goods. In the turbulent era following Egypt's unification under the first ...