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Fragmentary Necklace with Cornflowers

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Much ancient Egyptian jewelry was essentially decorative, like the pair of gold earrings shown here, which are simply thick hoops. But other items of adornment sometimes acted like amulets to protect the wearer, such as the necklaces mounted together here. These necklaces include ancestor bust figures for communicating with the dead; cornflowers, which were associated with renewal; a frog, symbolizing rebirth; and the pregnant hippopotamus, protector of pregnant women and thus a guardian of rebirth.
MEDIUM Faience
  • Place Excavated: Tell el-Amarna, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1352–1336 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY late Dynasty 18
    PERIOD New Kingdom, Amarna Period
    DIMENSIONS 7/16 × 1/8 × 3 3/8 in. (1.1 × 0.3 × 8.6 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 35.2023
    CREDIT LINE Gift of the Egypt Exploration Society
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Fragmentary necklace consisting of eleven yellow faience thistle pendants and ten very small circular red, yellow and blue beads. Condition: The remaining pieces are all in good condition.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Fragmentary Necklace with Cornflowers, ca. 1352–1336 B.C.E. Faience, 7/16 × 1/8 × 3 3/8 in. (1.1 × 0.3 × 8.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Egypt Exploration Society, 35.2023. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 35.2023_PS2.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 35.2023_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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