JARRE Alabaster H. 38 cm Diam. 19 cm Egypt, 1st-2nd dynasties, ca. 3000-2650 BC Provenance Former XXXX XXXX Collection French private collection, Paris Slightly concave cylindrical shape, characteristic of Thinite period production. This vase bears witness to the remarkable technical mastery of the lapidary craftsmen of High Antiquity Egypt, at the dawn of the Pharaonic civilisation. The shape is elegant, with an inverted double truncated cone: the body is slightly narrowed in the middle, creating a curved silhouette, then gradually widens out towards the top to end in a wide circular mouth with a thickened, rounded lip. The slightly concave base forms a low foot to keep the vessel stable. This characteristic morphology, known as the "diabolo" or "concave profile", appeared during the first dynasties and continued throughout the Old Kingdom. Alabaster, which is of exceptional quality, has a luminous golden cream colour with undulating horizontal veins ranging from light beige to amber honey. These natural bands, resulting from the geological stratification of the calcite, create a sumptuous decorative effect evoking aquatic waves frozen in the stone. The partial translucency of the material, visible particularly on the thin walls, gives the vase a luminous, precious quality. A Thinite Alabaster Jar. Dynasties 1-2, c. 3000-2650 BCE. Of slightly concave cylindrical form, characteristic of productions from the Thinite Period. This vessel bears witness to the remarkable technical mastery of lapidary craftsmen of high Egyptian Antiquity, at the dawn of pharaonic civilization. The form adopts an elegant profile of double inverted truncated cone: the body presents a slight median constriction creating a curved silhouette, then progressively flares towards the top to terminate in a wide circular mouth with thickened and rounded lip. The base, slightly concave, forms a low foot ensuring the vessel's stability. This characteristic morphology, called "diabolo-shaped" or "concave profile," appears during the early dynasties and persists throughout the Old Kingdom. The alabaster, of exceptional quality, displays a luminous golden cream coloration with undulating horizontal veins ranging from light beige to amber honey. These natural bands, resulting from the geological stratification of calcite, create a sumptuous decorative effect evoking aquatic waves frozen in stone. The partial translucency of the material, visible notably on the thinned walls, confers upon the vessel a luminous and precious quality.