Bidspirit auction | AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PREDYNASTIC RED

AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PREDYNASTIC RED GRANITE JAR, 3500-2700 BC. - This stone vessel is a characteristic example of Ancient Egyptian lapidary art from the Predynastic (Naqada II-III) to Early Dynastic period, approximately 3500-2700 BC. The jar is carved from a mottled red and black granite, historically associated with the Aswan region. The form consists of a squat, ovoid body tapering to a narrow, flat base. It features a broad, flat-topped rim over a short neck, with two small horizontally pierced lug handles carved integrally into the shoulder. The entire surface has been polished to a smooth finish, demonstrating the high level of skill achieved in working hard igneous stone during this period. Such vessels were highly prized in antiquity and were frequently placed in tombs for use in the afterlife. H: Approximately 13.3cm