This beautiful alabaster jar with the precious scent of spikenard inside evokes the anointing of Christ by a woman in Bethany at Simon's house.  The account of the woman who anointed Christ with the oil of spikenard from an alabaster jar is mentioned in 3 of the Gospels, Matthew 26:7, Mark 14:3, and in Luke 7: 36-38. In Matthew and Luke, the oil is not specified but in Mark, it is called spikenard or nard.  At the time of Jesus, the perfume would have been in the alabaster holder itself and the top would have been sealed with wax.  She probably broke the seal not the jar or alabaster box itself.   Today, the spikenard is in a bottle which rests on a purple cloth inside the jar.  Each alabaster jar is different and unique as alabaster is unique.  The pictures are representive of the size and shape of the jar.  Colors and patterns vary.  The spikenard is in a 7ml glass bottle.  The alabaster jar is 3 inches in diameter and approximately 3.25 inches tall.

The account in Matthew 26:6 - 10 (New International Version)

6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper,

7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

8When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.

9“This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

10Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.  

11The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.  

12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.  

13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”