ANCIENT FAIENCE EGYPTIAN HYSOS "MUMMY BEADS" BRACELET, 1550 BC

Impressive wearable bracelet, beautifully recomposed “Restrung” using authentic ancient Egyptian faience, terminated with sterling silver clasp so it can be safely worn today.

Dimensions:
Length: 17 cm
Width: 2.5 cm

Beware of modern fakes!

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Reference:
Egyptian Mummy beads

Egyptian burial sites have enormous quantities of beads in many varieties. Since beads were such an integral part of the culture, they paint a poignant picture of an idealistic people, surprisingly sophisticated; yet bound by superstition. Beads were commonly worn to protect the wearer from misfortune, rather than to express status or wealth. In fact, the Egyptian word for luck was "SHA", and "SHA SHA" came to be the word for bead

During the height of ancient Egyptian culture, virtually everyone wore beads; king and commoner, male and female, young and old. Those who had the means not only wore beaded collars and girdles, but shawls and whole garments of woven beads. Beads were used to cover any and all body parts. Even statues were draped with beads during this era of unprecedented splendor.

When baked at high temperatures the clay constituents formed a glossy crust.

Faience beads were extensively produced, and became widely available. Strung with gold spacers they were worn as earrings, bracelets, anklets and multi-stranded collars and aprons.

During the later period, faience beads were produced almost exclusively for funerary use and some mummies were buried with thousands of beads. Thus the tombs that were designed to defend their tenants against the erosion of time have become windows through which we peer into the very heart of an ancient culture.