Ancient Egypt, Old Kingdom Period, 3rd to 6th Dynasty, ca. 2686 to 2181 BCE. An elegant marble jar of a squat form with a round yet stable base, a broad shoulder, and an inward-curving rim, all naturally adorned with mottled hues of cream, ash gray, charcoal, and black. The exterior has been polished to be generally smooth, but the interior surface gives a better understanding of the rough material that the artisans had to work. Stone vessels like this example were common in burials from the Predynastic period and throughout the Old Kingdom, marking the greatest period of production of stone vessels in Egyptian history. During the Old Kingdom, there was a move away from larger "real vessels" to more petite, model ones since, according to the Egyptian principle of magical substitution, models of objects that were required for the spirits of the dead throughout eternity would be just as effective as the larger originals, while also being more affordable and easier to manufacture. Size: 3.6" Diameter x 1.3" H (9.1 cm x 3.3 cm)

The ritual of offering for the dead was central to the function of the tomb. Real food would be left with the burial, but this of course could not be provided in sufficient quantities to supply the dead for ever. The mere existence of the model vessels, together with depictions of some of the offerings (even if just in hieroglyphs), was enough for the continued provision of sustenance to be assured.

Stone jars of a similar form have been found at the Menkaura (Mycerinus) Valley Temple in Giza and are now located at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts under accession numbers 11.339 and 11.341.

Provenance: private Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA collection; ex-Minerva Gallery; ex-Benjamin Vega, California, USA, acquired in 2006 to 2007; ex-Gene and Virginia George, brought to the USA from 1961 to 1966

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#177881

Professionally repaired with break line and adhesive visible. Chip to rim and some nicks and abrasions to surface, but otherwise excellent presentation with mostly smooth surfaces, pretty natural hues, and a graceful silhouette.