Culture

Egypt, c. 1200 – 1000 B.C.

Size

26 cm long (from bead to bead), 4 cm wide 

Provenance

Dutch private collection, bought from Bonhams London. 

Walter Thomas Gaze Cooper (1895-1981) collection; and thence by decent to the previous owner. 

From the Myers Collection (Major William Joseph Myers) (1858-1899), including old note. 

Description

A blue faience bead broad collar, with both long cylindrical types and small circular beads. Some of the circular beads are from a different color: orange, green and black.

Beads were the most common use of faience. They were made in many shapes: spherical, tubular, barrel-shaped, or even tiny amulets (lotus, eye, frog, etc.) that could be strung together.

They were worn as necklaces, bracelets, anklets, girdles, sewn onto clothing, or attached to hair and wigs. Larger faience beads were used in elaborate collars (wesekh).

Condition

Well preserved, restrung. 

Price

€ 1100