Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid. Earrings with Egyptian multicoloured faience, Lapis Lazuli and carnelian beads in a handmade design. The ancient beads are restrung with modern materials and fittings. Total length: ± 45,1 mm Diameter beads: ± 5 mm maximum Condition: good condition and wearable. The ancient beads are restrung and combined with modern gold-plated spacer beads and fittings. Signs of wear consistent with age and use. See images. Every ancient bead shows subtle variations and signs of age, reflecting its history and adding to the unique charm of every composition. Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request. LAPIS LAZULI Lapis Lazuli was associated with strength, courage, royalty, wisdom and truth. The dark blue colour reminded the Egyptian of the night skies and the gold pyrite flecks as the stars. It was favoured by the Egyptian pharaohs and was famously used in the burial mask of King Tutankhamun. CARNELIAN 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 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.