This is a mineral that’s been around since ancient
times. Back in the Roman era it was
carved into vases, used as monuments and windows in churches and made into
vessels. The purest form is snow white
with a fine uniform grain and is thin enough to see through, thus making it suitable
for windows.
Artifact in the Egyptian Museum Cairo
The origin of “alabaster” is from the middle Ages, but it
seems no one knows exactly where this word came from. Some say old French, others say Latin, and
still others say Greek or ancient Egypt.
Alabaster is soft so carves easily, but this quality also
makes it unsuitable for outdoor work.
Fine alabaster is used as ornamental stone, especially in cathedrals and
on stair rails, vases, etc.
From the Roman Empire
Alabaster is porous so it can be dyed into any color by
immersing it into the dye bath and heating it to certain temperatures. Caution must be used, however, because it can
be easily ruined by too much heat and that causes the stone to have a milky
white look much like chalk. This ruins its
translucent appearance.
Fossanova Abbey in Latina Italy
Gypsum alabaster is the softer of the two alabaster
types. The other is calcite alabaster
found in caves. Gypsum alabaster
artifacts have been in Egypt. They date
back to the late fourth millennium BC.
Gypsum alabaster can also be found in Spain, Italy, England and Wales.
There is also a rare black alabaster that can be found in
only three places in the world, Oklahoma, Italy and China.
All pictures courtesy of wikipedia
