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Egyptian Glass Necklace

$34,437.73
£25,000
€29,470.46
CA$47,357.04
A$52,665.62
CHF 27,568.02
MX$642,456.45
NOK 346,402.20
SEK 325,835.99
DKK 219,977.87

About the Item

This striking necklace dates from the 18th Dynasty and exemplifies the skill attained by Egyptian jewellery-makers in this period. Falling early in the era of the New Kingdom, these centuries saw the apogee of Egyptian power, and the famous reign’s queen Nefertiti and Tutankhamun. With power came the patronage of craftsmen, and the 18th dynasty is known as a rich period of cultural production; its output including gold objects, monumental statues and sophisticated jewellery pieces such as this. Composed mainly of glass, this simple beautiful necklace is dominated by three tear-drop pendants beaded together by small, spherical red glass beads, and larger ones of gold. The drop pendants have a smooth dark red surface, with a patinated sheen. The two smaller stones are backed by unpolished green glass, producing a striking, contrasting effect if viewed from the side. Glass was regarded as a luxurious and important material in Ancient Egypt, and was called 'iner en wedeh', or ‘stone of the kind that flows’ in reference to its production process.1 The advent of the 18th Dynasty saw rapid innovation and great creativity in the field of glass craftsmanship, as new ways of manipulating colour were developed. The colour red was considered symbolic in Egyptian artistic tradition; holding connotations of both life and death, of energy and of power. The pendants of this piece, perhaps symbolic in their sanguine, droplet shape, show the skilful manipulation of colour and glass for which this era is well-known. Together, material and pigment are used to dramatic and beautiful effect.
  • Metal:
  • Stone:
  • Stone Cut:
  • Dimensions:
    Diameter: 47 in (1,193.8 mm)
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    18th Dynasty, New Kingdom 1549-1292 B.C.
  • Condition:
    Replacements made: Modern Clasp. Wear consistent with age and use. Item is made of ancient elements, restrung with modern gold fittings.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: D33611stDibs: LU3348219941032

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