Origin: Sinai, Egypt
Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BC
Dimensions: 2.25" (5.7cm) high x 2.25" (5.7cm) wide
Catalogue: V1
Collection: Egyptian
Style: Predynastic
Medium: Stone
The vessel is characterized by a body which resembles a container made from the skin of an animal. Such vessels are commonly depicted in Egyptian tomb paintings of the later Ramesside Period where they appear to be made of the skins of goats. The lip is off-set from the body which is provided with two handles. The walls of the vessel are characteristically thin, contributing to its delicate translucency which attests to the skill of the ancient Egyptian craftsmen in creating such wafer-thin, stone objects.
The shape of the vessel relates it to other imitation animal-skin sack-like vessels, one example of which is in London, The British Museum. This example is dated to the late Predynastic to early Archaic Period roughly between 3200-2800 BC. As such it conforms to the large number of experimental shapes which characterize the repertoire of stone vases at the dawn of Egypt’s history.

Antiquities
Ancient Egyptian