The 6th Dynasty of Egypt marked a period of creativity in the production of stone vessels. A variety of new, more complex shapes came into vogue including the finely modeled short spout as seen on the present example (see D. Arnold and E Pischikova, "Stone Vessels: Luxury Items with Manifold Implications" in J.P. O'Neill, ed., Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids, pp. 121-123).
