Like many materials we assume are recent discoveries, alabaster has been around for a very long time. In fact, ancient Egyptian alabaster carvings are on display at the Metropolitan Museum in New York as well as many others. Cleopatra might have poured wine for Mark Antony from an alabaster vessel. Like other stones it can be carved and sculpted, but the larger pieces of alabaster are usually worked in more of a woodworking than a lapidary process. It takes an expert stonecutter using a combination of centuries- old and cutting edge techniques to work the stones with the least amount of waste.
Alabaster is extremely heat sensitive.
Basic Source is the only manufacturer that provides a proprietary lamp shield in every incandescent and halogen fixture to disperse the heat and protect the alabaster from heat discoloration.