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Jasmine Blossoms

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor
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.
MEDIUM Faience
  • Place Made: Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1319–1190 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 18 to Dynasty 19
    PERIOD New Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS Length: 20 7/8 in. (53 cm) 3/4 x Diam. 1 1/8 in. (1.9 x 2.9 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 72.56
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Helena Simkhovitch in memory of her father, Vladimir G. Simkhovitch
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION One necklace composed of forty faience beads in the form of jasmine blossoms (Jasminum Sambac L.) and one round bead with two banded discs attached to opposite sides. The blossoms are gradated, large to small. The large have six petals and the small have four petals. Colors: bright blue to bright light green. Many discolored to brown. Condition: Discoloration to brown on many beads. Several beads missing petal tips and some large beads have petals broken off and repaired. In one case a missing portion is restored.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor
    CAPTION Jasmine Blossoms, ca. 1319–1190 B.C.E. Faience, Length: 20 7/8 in. (53 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Helena Simkhovitch in memory of her father, Vladimir G. Simkhovitch, 72.56. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.72.56_erg456.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, CUR.72.56_erg456.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 9/6/2007
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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     <em>Jasmine Blossoms</em>, ca. 1319–1190 B.C.E. Faience, Length: 20 7/8 in. (53 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Helena Simkhovitch in memory of her father, Vladimir G. Simkhovitch, 72.56. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.72.56_erg456.jpg)

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