Egyptian Blue Faience Necklace with Amulets

£ 975.00

A beautifully crafted Ancient Egyptian restrung necklace featuring faience cylindrical-shaped and round-shaped beads. The necklace is further enriched at its centre by seven faience amuletic beads, displaying different hues of blue: three beads, including the central one, are modelled in the shape of lotus petals, two in the shape of grapes, and the last two are modelled in the shape of the Egyptian god Bes, portrayed playing a tambourine.

Date: Circa 1069-744 BC
Period: Third Intermediate Period
Condition: Very fine condition. The necklace has been finished with a small gold-plated clasp, but please be aware that the clasp has not been professionally tied. The measurements given apply to the folded necklace.
Product Code: ES-91
Category: Tag:

All the faience fruit and flower-shaped beads featured on this necklace are intrinsically linked not only to aspects of everyday life in Ancient Egypt but also to the idea of afterlife. Indeed, lotus flowers grew on the Nile and were deeply admired by the Egyptians for their scent and beauty, but also because they were related to creation myths and therefore symbolised creation and rebirth. Grapes were cultivated there and used to make wine which played an important role in ceremonies. Bes, on the other hand, was a popular and extremely loved Egyptian deity, protector of childbirth, he was believed to ward off any demons that may corrupt the unborn child.  Bes was worshipped in households to protect against any intruders, whether it be people or deadly animals. Although the deity was presented in a grotesque, intimidating way, Bes was very friendly and was symbolised with laughter, music and dance granting him many different qualities. Hence the representation of a dancing Bes, playing a tambourine.

To discover more about jewellery in the Ancient World, please visit our relevant post: Jewellery in Antiquity.

Dimensions L 23.5 cm
Faience

Black Faience, Blue Faience, Green Faience, Red Faience, Turquoise Faience, White Faience, Yellow Faience

Egyptian Mythology

Bes

Region

North Africa

Reference: For a similar item, The Metropolitan Museum, item 11.215.195.

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