Floral and Pear-Shaped Pendants and Cylindrical Beads

ca. 1390–1352 B.C.E.

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Object Label

Necklaces

Most ancient Egyptians owned at least one necklace.

The simplest examples were made of tiny beads of shell, bone, faience, metal, or glazed steatite. More complex versions had beads in the form of amulets, including uraeus-cobras, wedjat-eyes (the eye of the falcon-god Horus, symbolizing wholeness), scarabs (charms in the form of beetles), or images of gods such as Hathor. Individual beads as well as complete necklaces had significance. Beads reproducing fruits or flowers, such as the examples in this case, were believed to enhance fertility. Military officers presented fly necklaces to valiant soldiers to acknowledge their tenacity in battle.

Caption

Floral and Pear-Shaped Pendants and Cylindrical Beads, ca. 1390–1352 B.C.E.. Faience, 5/16 x 12 13/16 in. (0.8 x 32.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Lawrence Coolidge and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, and the Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 48.66.44. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.48.66.44_NegL1008_23_print_bw.jpg)

Title

Floral and Pear-Shaped Pendants and Cylindrical Beads

Date

ca. 1390–1352 B.C.E.

Dynasty

late Dynasty 18

Period

New Kingdom

Medium

Faience

Classification

Jewelry

Dimensions

5/16 x 12 13/16 in. (0.8 x 32.5 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. Lawrence Coolidge and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, and the Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

48.66.44

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

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