Origin: Sinai, Egypt Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Faience Most Ancient Egyptian beads were made of faience, a  More »

Origin: Sinai, Egypt Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Faience Most Ancient Egyptian beads were made of faience, a glass-composite glaze which was introduced as early as the Pre-Dynastic period. According to Egyptologists, such beads were made on an axis, probably of thread, which would burn up during firing, leaving a hole. Disc, ring and tubular beads were made by coating the axis with the unfired body-paste, rolling the cylinder to an even diameter on a flat surface, and then scoring it with a knife into sections of the desired length. Other shapes, such as ball beads, were rolled between the hands and perforated while still wet with a stiff point such as a wire needle. The beads were then dried, coated with glaze (if the glaze had not already been mixed with the paste), and fired. The firing process often gave the beads a beautiful translucent quality. The majority of faience beads are blue or green in color, but black, red, yellow and white ones were also produced, especially in the New Egyptian Kingdom. In the art of Ancient Egypt, we see lovely women adorned with such jewels. To wear these beads today is to follow in the royal tradition of Nefertiti and Cleopatra. - (FJ.4612)   « Less

Origin: Sinai, Egypt Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Faience Most Ancient Egyptian beads were made of faience, a  More »

Origin: Sinai, Egypt Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Faience Most Ancient Egyptian beads were made of faience, a glass-composite glaze which was introduced as early as the Pre-Dynastic period. According to Egyptologists, such beads were made on an axis, probably of thread, which would burn up during firing, leaving a hole. Disc, ring and tubular beads were made by coating the axis with the unfired body-paste, rolling the cylinder to an even diameter on a flat surface, and then scoring it with a knife into sections of the desired length. Other shapes, such as ball beads, were rolled between the hands and perforated while still wet with a stiff point such as a wire needle. The beads were then dried, coated with glaze (if the glaze had not already been mixed with the paste), and fired. The firing process often gave the beads a beautiful translucent quality. The majority of faience beads are blue or green in color, but black, red, yellow and white ones were also produced, especially in the New Egyptian Kingdom. In the art of Ancient Egypt, we see lovely women adorned with such jewels. To wear these beads today is to follow in the royal tradition of Nefertiti and Cleopatra. - (FJ.4613)   « Less

Origin: Egypt (Sinai) Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian Medium: Faience-Jasper-Gold Exquisite necklace in the antique style composed of genuine Egyptian new  More »

Origin: Egypt (Sinai) Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian Medium: Faience-Jasper-Gold Exquisite necklace in the antique style composed of genuine Egyptian new kingdom faience beads strung with genuine Egyptian new kingdom carnelian and jasper vase-shaped beads and an 18 karat gold clasp. With its rich colors and elegant form, this necklace is exactly like those worn by the Egyptian nobility of the new kingdom. Jewels like this have been found in aristocratic tombs, considered among the most prized possessions of their owners. The brilliant blue faience is meant to protect against the evil eye, to keep the wearer safe from all unseen danger. The deep red jasper and carnelian is believed to give courage and to promote good health in general. As we place this superb jewel about our neck today, it is easy to imagine some ancient Egyptian princess doing exactly that centuries before. - (FJ.4629)   « Less

Origin: Egypt/Africa (Sinai) Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian/African Medium: Faience-Glass Necklace composed of genuine Egyptian new kingdom faience beads  More »

Origin: Egypt/Africa (Sinai) Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian/African Medium: Faience-Glass Necklace composed of genuine Egyptian new kingdom faience beads and genuine Venetian glass trade beads. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself, and a constant theme in human affairs, as this splendid necklace demonstrates. It brings together two kinds of beads from cultures separated by many centuries, yet makes them perfectly compatible and absolutely timeless in their beauty. Faience, a glass composite paste, was first created in Egypt more than four thou sand years ago. In the Egyptian new kingdom, artistry in faience was at its peak. Faience beads like these were worn by the citizens of Egypt for centuries. On the walls of tombs and temples, the aristocracy is depicted wearing faience necklaces. During the renaissance, Venetian craftsman rediscovered the ancient techniques for glassmaking. As Venetian trading power spread throughout the world, so did the demand for Venetian glass jewelry. In Africa especially, Venetian beads were used as barter for gold, ivory, spices and rare woods. In some places they acted as a kind of currency, and were used as a bridal dowry. It is easy to see why. Their subtle beauty, which blends perfectly with the rich colors of faience, still speaks to us today. - (FJ.4652)   « Less

Origin: Egypt/Africa (Sinai) Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian/African Medium: Faience-Glass Necklace composed of genuine Egyptian New Kingdom faience beads  More »

Origin: Egypt/Africa (Sinai) Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian/African Medium: Faience-Glass Necklace composed of genuine Egyptian New Kingdom faience beads and genuine Venetian glass trade beads. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself, and a constant theme in human affairs, as this splendid necklace demonstrates. It brings together two kinds of beads from cultures separated by many centuries, yet makes them perfectly compatible and absolutely timeless in their beauty. Faience, a glass composite paste, was first created in Egypt more than four thou sand years ago. In the Egyptian new kingdom, artistry in faience was at its peak. Faience beads like these were worn by the citizens of Egypt for centuries. On the walls of tombs and temples, the aristocracy is depicted wearing faience necklaces. During the renaissance, Venetian craftsman rediscovered the ancient techniques for glassmaking. As Venetian trading power spread throughout the world, so did the demand for Venetian glass jewelry. In Africa especially, Venetian beads were used as barter for gold, ivory, spices and rare woods. In some places they acted as a kind of currency, and were used as a bridal dowry. It is easy to see why. Their subtle beauty, which blends perfectly with the rich colors of faience, still speaks to us today. - (FJ.4659)   « Less

Origin: Egypt/Africa (Sinai) Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian/African Medium: Faience-Glass Necklace composed of genuine Egyptian New Kingdom faience beads  More »

Origin: Egypt/Africa (Sinai) Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian/African Medium: Faience-Glass Necklace composed of genuine Egyptian New Kingdom faience beads and genuine Venetian glass trade beads. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself, and a constant theme in human affairs, as this splendid necklace demonstrates. It brings together two kinds of beads from cultures separated by many centuries, yet makes them perfectly compatible and absolutely timeless in their beauty. Faience, a glass composite paste, was first created in Egypt more than four thou sand years ago. In the Egyptian new kingdom, artistry in faience was at its peak. Faience beads like these were worn by the citizens of Egypt for centuries. On the walls of tombs and temples, the aristocracy is depicted wearing faience necklaces. During the renaissance, Venetian craftsman rediscovered the ancient techniques for glassmaking. As Venetian trading power spread throughout the world, so did the demand for Venetian glass jewelry. In Africa especially, Venetian beads were used as barter for gold, ivory, spices and rare woods. In some places they acted as a kind of currency, and were used as a bridal dowry. It is easy to see why. Their subtle beauty, which blends perfectly with the rich colors of faience, still speaks to us today. - (FJ.4660)   « Less

Origin: Egypt/Africa (Sinai) Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian/African Medium: Faience-Glass Necklace composed of genuine Egyptian New Kingdom faience beads  More »

Origin: Egypt/Africa (Sinai) Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian/African Medium: Faience-Glass Necklace composed of genuine Egyptian New Kingdom faience beads and genuine Venetian glass trade beads. The love of ornament is as old as civilization itself, and a constant theme in human affairs, as this splendid necklace demonstrates. It brings together two kinds of beads from cultures separated by many centuries, yet makes them perfectly compatible and absolutely timeless in their beauty. Faience, a glass composite paste, was first created in Egypt more than four thou sand years ago. In the Egyptian new kingdom, artistry in faience was at its peak. Faience beads like these were worn by the citizens of Egypt for centuries. On the walls of tombs and temples, the aristocracy is depicted wearing faience necklaces. During the renaissance, Venetian craftsman rediscovered the ancient techniques for glassmaking. As Venetian trading power spread throughout the world, so did the demand for Venetian glass jewelry. In Africa especially, Venetian beads were used as barter for gold, ivory, spices and rare woods. In some places they acted as a kind of currency, and were used as a bridal dowry. It is easy to see why. Their subtle beauty, which blends perfectly with the rich colors of faience, still speaks to us today. - (FJ.4661)   « Less

Origin: Sinai, Egypt Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Faience Most Ancient Egyptian beads were made of faience, a  More »

Origin: Sinai, Egypt Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Faience Most Ancient Egyptian beads were made of faience, a glass-composite glaze which was introduced as early as the Pre-Dynastic period. According to Egyptologists, such beads were made on an axis, probably of thread, which would burn up during firing, leaving a hole. Disc, ring and tubular beads were made by coating the axis with the unfired body-paste, rolling the cylinder to an even diameter on a flat surface, and then scoring it with a knife into sections of the desired length. Other shapes, such as ball beads, were rolled between the hands and perforated while still wet with a stiff point such as a wire needle. The beads were then dried, coated with glaze (if the glaze had not already been mixed with the paste), and fired. The firing process often gave the beads a beautiful translucent quality. The majority of faience beads are blue or green in color, but black, red, yellow and white ones were also produced, especially in the New Egyptian Kingdom. In the art of Ancient Egypt, we see lovely women adorned with such jewels. To wear these beads today is to follow in the royal tradition of Nefertiti and Cleopatra. - (FJ.4662)   « Less

Origin: Sinai, Egypt Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Faience Most Ancient Egyptian beads were made of faience, a  More »

Origin: Sinai, Egypt Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: New Kingdom Medium: Faience Most Ancient Egyptian beads were made of faience, a glass-composite glaze which was introduced as early as the Pre-Dynastic period. According to Egyptologists, such beads were made on an axis, probably of thread, which would burn up during firing, leaving a hole. Disc, ring and tubular beads were made by coating the axis with the unfired body-paste, rolling the cylinder to an even diameter on a flat surface, and then scoring it with a knife into sections of the desired length. Other shapes, such as ball beads, were rolled between the hands and perforated while still wet with a stiff point such as a wire needle. The beads were then dried, coated with glaze (if the glaze had not already been mixed with the paste), and fired. The firing process often gave the beads a beautiful translucent quality. The majority of faience beads are blue or green in color, but black, red, yellow and white ones were also produced, especially in the New Egyptian Kingdom. In the art of Ancient Egypt, we see lovely women adorned with such jewels. To wear these beads today is to follow in the royal tradition of Nefertiti and Cleopatra. - (FJ.4663)   « Less

Origin: Egypt (Sinai) Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian Medium: Faience Most Ancient Egyptian beads were made of faience, a glass-composite glaze which was  More »

Origin: Egypt (Sinai) Circa: 1600 BC to 1100 BC Collection: Egyptian Medium: Faience Most Ancient Egyptian beads were made of faience, a glass-composite glaze which was introduced as early as the Pre-Dynastic period. According to Egyptologists, such beads were made on an axis, probably of thread, which would burn up during firing, leaving a hole. Disc, ring and tubular beads were made by coating the axis with the unfired body-paste, rolling the cylinder to an even diameter on a flat surface, and then scoring it with a knife into sections of the desired length. Other shapes, such as ball beads, were rolled between the hands and perforated while still wet with a stiff point such as a wire needle. The beads were then dried, coated with glaze (if the glaze had not already been mixed with the paste), and fired. The firing process often gave the beads a beautiful translucent quality. The majority of faience beads are blue or green in color, but black, red, yellow and white ones were also produced, especially in the New Egyptian Kingdom. In the art of Ancient Egypt, we see lovely women adorned with such jewels. To wear these beads today is to follow in the royal tradition of Nefertiti and Cleopatra. - (FJ.4664)   « Less