Stone vessels in Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptian stone vessel production was one of the most prolific and long-lived industries in the Mediterranean. They were an important status indicator, and commonly used to hold liquids or cosmetics, for ritual and display purposes, and as canopic jars.

The earliest stone vessels in Egypt date as far back as the Late Neolithic (c. 5100 – c. 4700 BC).^[1] From the Predynastic Period (c. 4000 – c. 3100 BC) onward, hundreds of thousands were created, in a wide variety of shapes and materials, many from hard stones, but the majority from soft calcareous rocks, especially travertine.^[2] Hard stone vessels were luxury items that only the elite had access to. As such, they were frequently imitated. Production peaked around the early Dynastic period (c. 3100 – c. 2686 BC), perhaps due to the adoption of a turning device like the potter's wheel.^[3][4][5] At the start of the Old Kingdom focus shifted away from stone vessels toward of other stone-based displays such as pyramids, statues and sarcophagi.^[6] They were increasingly replaced by equivalents of different materials like glass, faience and precious metals. Both hard and soft stone vessels continued to be produced until the end of antiquity and beyond, however in diminished quantity and variety.

The production process of stone vessels began in a quarry, where vessel blanks (rough versions) were hewn from the bedrock. They were subsequently transported to workshops where they were hollowed out with drills and had their exterior smoothed and decorated.