The alabaster box is a symbol of offering in some Christian traditions.
Common vessels in ancient times, alabaster boxes hold religious and cultural-historical significance today. They make unusual ornaments or gifts and can be used as spiritual talismans, decorative containers or aromatherapy vases. Working with alabaster isn't necessarily a straightforward task. Depending on what your purpose is, you can make your box from traditional Egyptian alabaster or the more workable gypsum alabaster.
Historical Background
The most prominent use of the phrase "alabaster box" originates in the King James translation of the Bible. In fact, the original Greek text doesn't specify a box but uses the term "alabastron." This was a tall, narrow flask with a rounded bottom used to hold fragrant oils and perfumes for rituals such as weddings and funerals. In ancient times, these flasks were mainly carved from alabaster, although they were also made of materials such as glass, porcelain and other ceramics.
In the Christian tradition, the alabaster box has come to represent sacrifice, faith and adoration. The story of the anointing of Jesus in the New Testament tells of a woman who poured all of the precious oil from her alabastron onto Jesus in an act of offering. In some traditions, this woman became associated with Mary Magdalene, whose iconography sometimes includes an alabaster box or jug.
Egyptian Alabaster
The traditional material for an alabastron is what the ancients called "alabaster," which was actually a type of limestone onyx. A relatively soft mineral, it can be cut, carved and polished with stone-working tools. You may also contain thin sheets of the mineral within frames and connect the edges to form a box.
Although you may have to obtain true Egyptian alabaster from that country, you can substitute travertine. This is a common modern construction limestone, usually found in tile form at building supply stores. Pieces of travertine can be bound together with tile adhesive.
Gypsum Alabaster
By modern definition, "alabaster" refers to a type of fine-grained gypsum primarily used for ornamental applications in the Mediterranean. Softer than Egyptian alabaster, this mineral is available through sculpture material suppliers. You can carve and polish gypsum alabaster with stone-working tools.
As a simpler alternative to stone-working, you may consider using plaster of Paris, another form of gypsum. You can find it in powder form at art supply stores. The powder forms a liquid paste with water and dries solid. You can cast liquid plaster of Paris in flexible molds, use dried solid blocks of plaster for carving or paint a wooden container with a layer of liquid plaster. Although it is somewhat water soluble, plaster of Paris will hold oil and oil-based perfumes.
Other Materials
Historically, an alabastron might be made of any of a variety of materials, including gold, silver, glass and ceramic. Glass-blowing yields the most traditional shape: an elongated bulb-like vase. But any pretty glass container can be filled with perfume or essential oil to represent the ancient vessel.
For a more easily personalized alabastron, shape a flask from a fine ceramic clay, such a porcelain, by hand or on a potter's wheel and fire it to the material's specifications. You can glaze it for durability or leave it unglazed for a more antique finish.
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