Alabaster stone

The stone vessels on this page consist of two types. The first, and often considered to be the finest, is the true translucent alabaster, evidenced by its softness and natural color. This type of alabaster is hand carved, for it is too soft for machine work. This process usually results in a finer piece, with thinner walls, making it more translucent.
Oriental Alabaster is a somewhat different type of stone which is in fact more of a Marble. The difference is that true alabaster is a variety of gypsum known as calcium sulphate, while "Oriental Alabaster" is a calcium carbonate. "Oriental Alabaster", such as the colored vessels, is usually machine made, with thicker walls and is somewhat less translucent. However, it is also more of a polished look.