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Broad Collar

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

As early as the Old Kingdom (circa 2670–2195 B.C.), Egyptian artisans fashioned images of gods, kings, and mortals wearing broad collars made of molded tubular and teardrop beads. These beaded collars may have been derived from floral prototypes. In antiquity the collar was called a wesekh, literally "the broad one."

MEDIUM Faience
  • Possible Place Collected: Thebes, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1336–1327 B.C.E., ca. 1327–1323 B.C.E., or ca.1323–1295 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY late Dynasty 18
    PERIOD New Kingdom Period
    DIMENSIONS 14 7/16 x 4 7/16 in. (36.6 x 11.3 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 40.522
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    PROVENANCE Archaeological provenance not yet documented, possibly from Thebes, Egypt; by 1932, in the possession of Howard Carter of London, United Kingdom; October 1940, purchased from Spink and Son Ltd., London, Estate of Howard Carter, by the Brooklyn Museum.
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    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Dark blue faience necklace. Semi-circular 'collar' type with six rows of cylindrical beads separated by single strands of small circular beads. Below, a row of large elongated pear-shaped beads bordered by single strand of small circular beads. Ends terminate in large semi-circular faience plaques each pierced four times. Condition: Perfect with exception of one large bead in center of lowest register which is broken at upper end
    CAPTION Broad Collar, ca. 1336–1327 B.C.E., ca. 1327–1323 B.C.E., or ca.1323–1295 B.C.E. Faience, 14 7/16 x 4 7/16 in. (36.6 x 11.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 40.522. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 40.522_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 40.522_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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