Alabaster

Southern place name

Alabaster is a fine-grained, translucent stone used for carving ornamental objects and sculptures.

It's soft enough to work easily but polishes to a smooth, luminous finish.

The word often describes skin that is pale, smooth, and flawless: her alabaster complexion, alabaster shoulders.

Historically, alabaster was prized for decorative boxes, lamp shades, and church furnishings because light passes through it with a soft glow.

material

gypsum

Hydrated calcium sulfate

  • calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
  • marbleRecrystallized limestone rock
  • quarryPit for extracting rock

translucent · veined · carved · sculpted · stone · mineral · sedimentary · slab · block · polished

color

white

Absence of pigment

  • paleLacking color intensity
  • creamRich milk fat
  • ivoryTusk-derived material

milky · luminous · porcelain · fair · pallid · complexion · skin · smooth · unblemished · pure

craft

sculpture

Shaped three-dimensional art

  • carvingShaping by cutting away
  • vaseOrnamental container for flowers
  • figurineSmall ornamental sculpture

urn · lampshade · vessel · ornament · bust · relief · inlay · artisan · chisel · workshop

biblical

ointment

Medicated skin cream

  • perfumeFragrant liquid for wearing
  • flaskPortable liquid container
  • anointApply ceremonial oil

nard · precious · vessel · Mary · Magdalene · Jesus · gospel · fragrant · offering · devotion

Categories
Opposites
color/luminosity

Alabasterblack

Darkest possible hue

ebony · jet-black · dark · obsidian · sable

material quality

Alabastergranite

Igneous rock, quartz-rich

basalt · sandstone · concrete · slag · pumice

aesthetic connotation

Alabasterweathered

Eroded by exposure

rugged · leathery · bronzed · tanned · ruddy

Phrases
Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G