Spanish Alabaster vs Egyptian Alabaster

Spanish alabaster is gypsum alabaster, a soft, fine-grained calcium sulfate stone of about 2 on the Mohs scale. Egyptian alabaster is calcite alabaster, a harder calcium carbonate stone of about 3, often banded. Both are called alabaster, and Teeshaa makes its lighting in Spanish alabaster.

key facts.

• The word alabaster covers two different minerals: gypsum and calcite.
• Gypsum alabaster is calcium sulfate dihydrate and can be scratched with a fingernail.
• Calcite alabaster, also called Egyptian or Oriental alabaster, is calcium carbonate and resists a fingernail.
• Calcite fizzes in hydrochloric acid, while gypsum barely reacts.
• Both are slightly soluble in water, so both belong indoors.
• Spanish alabaster is naturally translucent, and no two blocks are alike.

why do two different stones share the name alabaster?

The name describes a look and a use, not one mineral. Archaeologists and traders have long called any fine-grained, translucent, easily carved white or tinted stone alabaster, and both gypsum and calcite fit that description.

Gypsum alabaster is a very fine-grained variety of gypsum, the same mineral that is processed into plaster. Calcite alabaster is a banded form of calcium carbonate that geologists class as a travertine, a kind of limestone. The "Egyptian" label refers to calcite alabaster worked near Suez and Assiut.

how do Spanish and Egyptian alabaster differ?

They differ in chemistry, hardness and behaviour. Gypsum alabaster is softer, takes a fingernail scratch and does not fizz in acid. Calcite alabaster is harder, resists a fingernail, shows more banding and fizzes in acid.

Property	Gypsum alabaster (Spanish)	Calcite alabaster (Egyptian)
Mineral	Gypsum, calcium sulfate dihydrate	Calcite, calcium carbonate
Mohs hardness	About 1.5 to 2	About 3
Fingernail	Can be scratched	Cannot be scratched, but a knife cuts it
Hydrochloric acid	Little or no reaction	Fizzes
Typical look	Fine-grained, cloudy white to cream, grey veins or amber tones	Often banded in cream, honey and brown
Water	Slightly soluble	Slightly soluble
Use in lighting	Common for lamps and shades because it carves and polishes easily	Used for vessels, carvings and some lamps

why is gypsum alabaster so common in lighting?

Gypsum alabaster is soft enough to be shaped into thin, even walls and polished to a smooth finish, and it scatters light into a soft, shadow-free glow. Those qualities make it a natural material for shades, rings and lamp bodies.

The trade-off is the softness. Gypsum marks easily, dulls if it is wiped with water-based cleaners and should be kept clear of heat. Teeshaa's care guidance is written around exactly that, and the guide to why alabaster glows explains the light behaviour.

where does Spanish alabaster come from?

Spanish alabaster is gypsum alabaster quarried in Spain. The Ebro Valley in Aragon is a well-known source of gypsum alabaster, and Aragonese stone has been used for large translucent panels in buildings.

Gypsum alabaster also occurs elsewhere in the world, so the name tells you the origin of the stone, not a different mineral. Ask any maker which mineral and which country the stone comes from.

is one stone more durable than the other?

Calcite alabaster is harder, so it resists scratching better. That does not make either stone a rugged material. Both are slightly soluble in water, both are far too soft for outdoor use, and both belong in dry, ventilated interiors.

Calcite also reacts with acids such as vinegar and lemon, while gypsum is more sensitive to water and heat. For a lamp or chandelier the practical rule is the same for both: dusting with a soft, dry or lightly damp cloth, no harsh chemicals and no splash zones.

does each stone glow differently when lit?

Both stones transmit light, and the difference is subtler than the names suggest. Fine-grained gypsum tends to give an even, cloudy diffusion with soft gradients, while banded calcite shows its stripes more clearly when lit from behind.

Wall thickness matters as much as the mineral. Thinner walls glow brighter and reveal more of the internal structure, and thicker sections look denser. The colour of the stone and its inclusions also tints the light, so look at photographs of the actual piece switched on, not only unlit.

what should I check when comparing two alabaster lamps?

• Which mineral the stone is, and which country it comes from.
• Whether the piece is shown both unlit and lit.
• How multi-part pieces are matched for colour and clouding.
• What the care instructions say, since a soft stone needs gentle cleaning.
• Where the lamp will hang or stand, because dry indoor spaces suit both stones.

how Teeshaa fits.

Teeshaa makes sculptural lighting in Spanish alabaster, which is naturally translucent. Clouding, veining and mineral inclusions differ block to block, so no two pieces are the same. Stone is reviewed unlit and lit, and sections of multi-part pieces are matched for colour, clouding and transmission.

The range runs from the Essenzo Pendant and Alabaster Lana Style 1 to table lamps such as the Pebble Lamp. Read the material page for more, or how to tell real alabaster from resin if you are comparing sellers. Browse everything under alabaster lighting.

frequently asked questions.

What is the difference between Spanish and Egyptian alabaster?

Spanish alabaster is gypsum alabaster, a soft calcium sulfate stone of about 2 on the Mohs scale. Egyptian alabaster is calcite alabaster, a harder calcium carbonate stone of about 3 that is often banded. They are different minerals that share the name alabaster.

Is Egyptian alabaster real alabaster?

Yes. Calcite alabaster, often sold as Egyptian or Oriental alabaster, is a natural translucent stone. It is a different mineral from the gypsum alabaster used in most lighting, and it is harder and more banded.

Which alabaster is better for lamps?

Gypsum alabaster is the usual choice for lamps and shades because it is soft enough to carve into thin, even walls and polish smoothly, and it diffuses light evenly. Calcite is harder and can also glow, but it is chosen more for vessels and carvings.

How can I tell gypsum alabaster from calcite alabaster?

Gypsum can be scratched with a fingernail and barely reacts to hydrochloric acid, while calcite resists a fingernail and fizzes in acid. Do not test a finished lamp with acid or scratches. Ask the maker which mineral and country of origin the stone has.

Does Teeshaa use Egyptian alabaster?

No. Teeshaa makes its lighting in Spanish alabaster, a naturally translucent gypsum alabaster. The stone is reviewed unlit and lit, and sections of multi-part pieces are matched for colour, clouding and transmission. Natural variation between blocks is part of the material.

Reviewed by the Teeshaa studio, 19 October 2026.

sources.

• Wikipedia: Alabaster
• Wikipedia: Gypsum
• Conservation Wiki: Alabaster