Vase

Among the most renowned products of the ancient Egyptian artisans were elegant vessels carved of colorful and luminous stones. A favorite material was a soft white to yellowish calcite commonly known as "Egyptian alabaster". The stone was roughly carved into shape and then laboriously drilled out with a flint blade and finally polished with different sand abrasives to give the translucent vessel a shimmering surface polish. This large and finely crafted vessel is similar in form to one inscribed for King Pepy and may have come from the same royal workshop.