Ancient Egypt, Greco–Roman Period エジプト青瓷とカーネリアンのビーズをあしらったネックレス

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Necklace with Egyptian faience, coral and glass beads from the Ptolemaic - Roman period. The authentic ancient beads are restrung with modern materials making them suitable for modern wear while preserving their historical charm.

Length: ± 47 cm
Diameter beads: ± 10,2 mm maximum

Certificate:
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.

Condition:
Good condition and wearable. The ancient beads have been restrung and combined with modern gold-plated spacer beads and fittings. Minor surface irregularities and signs of wear consistent with age and use.

Provenance:
Composed of beads originating from various old collections, acquired in the UK between 2016–2024.

Character:
Each ancient bead displays subtle variations and signs of age, reflecting its long history and adding to the unique charm of every composition.

Please note:
Photographed in a professional studio against a deep black background to enhance contrast and detail. Studio lighting and individual screen settings may slightly affect the appearance of colours.

Historical background:

-> Due to its comparative rarity, coral is likely to have been prized by the ancient Egyptians. The ownership of such items also implied wealth and status for the wearer.
Ancient Egyptians used coral pieces in tombs as protection against evil spirits in the afterworld, as they believed it contains a drop of divine blood.
The Romans hung branches of coral around the necks of their children to protect them from danger.

In general, coral is a symbol of modesty, wisdom, happiness and immortality. It is believed it can help with spasms of intestines, sleeplessness, and bladder stones; and to be helpful in reducing stress, fears, depression and nightmares.


-> The Egyptians believed carnelian had magical powers; it was believed it could ward off evil, help the blood circulation and make the skin look healthy and youthful.
Carnelian was known as the 'Blood of Isis' (Goddess of nature and guide of souls to the Underworld). Accordingly, a carnelian amulet called a 'thet' was placed on mummies to assist the dead in their journey to the afterlife.
The Egyptian faith in carnelian was so strong that, along with turquoise and lapis lazuli, it was the most used stone in ancient Egyptian jewellery.

-> Faience was very popular and widely used in ancient Egypt. The earliest evidence of faience production was discovered in a 7500 year old workshop near the temple in Abydos. The production and style of faience changed through Egyptian history.

Different colourants were used for aesthetic and symbolic purposes, or to imitate the more expensive and rare semi-precious gemstones like turquoise, carnelian, lapis lazuli, garnets or obsidian. Egyptians believed that faience in the colour of gemstones had the same properties. Red had protective powers, dark lapis blue gave strength, courage and wisdom, bright turquoise was associated with fertility and offered protection to the wearer.

As faience was more available than semi-precious gemstones it became a popular and widely used material for small objects like scarabs and other forms of amulets, beads, jewellery, small size statuettes, cosmetic vessels and ritual objects.

In ancient Egypt, faience objects were seen as magical, reflecting the eternal shimmer of the sun and infused with the powers of rebirth and sparkle with the brilliance of eternity.