Description
Book SynopsisJewelry was worn by ancient Egyptians at every level of society and, like their modern descendants, they prized it for its aesthetic value, as a way to adorn and beautify the body. It was also a conspicuous signifier of wealth, status, and power. But jewelry in ancient Egypt served another fundamental purpose: its wearers saw it as a means to absorb positive magical and divine powers—to protect the living, and the dead, from the malignant forces of the unseen. The types of metals or stones used by craftsmen were magically important, as were the colors of the materials, and the exact positioning of all the elements in a design. Ancient Egyptian Jewelry: 50 Masterpieces of Art and Design draws on the exquisite collections in the archaeological museums of Cairo to tell the story of three thousand years of jewelry-making, from simple amulets to complex ritual jewelry to the spells that protected the king in life and assisted his journey to the Otherworld in death. Gold, silver, carnelian, turquoise, and lapis lazuli were just some of the precious materials used in many of the pieces, and this stunningly illustrated book beautifully showcases the colors and exceptional artistry and accomplishment that make ancient Egyptian jewelry so dazzling to this day.
Trade Review"The photography is crisp, clear, modern and very attractive: it makes you observe the jewelry in another way. . . [and] the book provides, seemingly in passing, an enormous amount of information about religion, economy, trade, history and craftsmanship."—Bedouin Silver
"Beautifully illustrated...inherently fascinating and impressively informative."—Midwest Book Review
"Highlights fifty of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry ever created—anywhere."—Ancient Egypt Magazine
"Stunning" —AramcoWorld
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Ancient Egyptian Jewelry Ancient Egyptian Jewelry: 50 Masterpieces The Bracelets of Horus Djer Carnelian Necklace with a Lion Head Amulet The Butterfly Bracelets of Queen Hetepheres Jewels of Princess Khnemet Khnemet’s Motto Bracelets Falcon Collar with Amulets Bracelet Clasps of Khnemet Princess Ita’s Dagger Necklace with a Pectoral of Senwosret II Bracelets of Queen Weret Cowrie Shell Belt Queen Weret’s Motto Necklace A Queen’s Bracelets and Anklets Pectoral of Senwosret III Diadem of a Princess Sithathoriunet’s Mirror Cowrie Shells and Acacia Seeds Mereret’s Feline Girdle Anklets with Claw Pendants Pendant of a Princess Neferuptah’s Collar Pectoral of Amenemhat III A Necklace with Fly Pendants Queen Ahhotep’s Bracelet Ahmose’s Armlet A Queen’s Bracelets The Ankh Sign A Glass Kohl Holder A General’s Earring Pectoral of an Official Gold Statuette of Tutankhamun Tutankhamun’s Daggers A Falcon Pendant Necklace Necklace with a Lunar Boat Tutankhamun’s Vulture Pectoral Pectoral of Nut Bracelets of Rameses the Great Seti II’s Earrings Pasebkhanut’s Necklace Pectoral of Pasebkhanut A General’s Pendant The Goddess Isis Pectoral of Sheshonq I Sheshonq’s Wedjat Bracelets Pectoral of Sheshonq II Pendant Head of Hathor Pendant of Maat A Necklace of Many Pendants A Young Woman’s Jewelry Diadem of Serapis Afterword and Further Reading
