Egyptian Faience Bead Necklace

New Kingdom Period to Late Period, c. 1070–600 BC, Egypt

A magnificent ancient Egyptian necklace, restrung for preservation, composed of faience beads arranged in a harmonious interplay of form and color. The main strand is crafted from long turquoise tubular beads, interspaced with smaller disc-shaped spacers in red, black, blue, brown, and white. Together, they create a striking rhythm that reflects the sophistication and symbolic depth of Egyptian jewelry-making.

Faience—an innovative glazed material made from ground quartz coated with a vitreous alkaline glaze—was among the most celebrated mediums of Egyptian craftsmanship. Its luminous turquoise, green, and blue tones symbolized fertility, renewal, and eternal life, while additional hues introduced from the Old Kingdom onward enriched designs with deeper symbolic layers.

Jewelry such as this was never merely decorative; it carried profound spiritual meaning. Faience beads were believed to embody rebirth and immortality, serving as protective amulets for both the living and the dead. Their shimmering hues also imitated prized stones such as turquoise and lapis lazuli, combining accessibility with elegance.

For more than four millennia, faience adorned necklaces, amulets, scarabs, ushabtis, vessels, and temple tiles, bridging artistry and devotion. This necklace, originating from Naukratis—an important Egyptian-Greek trading hub—stands as a rare survival and a superb testament to the enduring skill of Egyptian artisans. Both historically significant and visually captivating, it remains a piece of timeless beauty.

Good condition. Surface wear and abrasions consistent with age; minor chips, nicks, and attractive patina, with traces of discolouration and earthly encrustations. Length approx. 77,0 cm.

Provenance: Dutch private collection. Acquired in the 1960s.

For a similar examples see:

Necklace, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 15.3.470 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/557476)

Bead, The British Museum, Accession Number: EA87240 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/Y_EA87240)

Bead Necklace with a Heart Amulet Pendant, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, Accession Number: 51.1032 (https://www.mfab.hu/artworks/18889/)

References and further reading:

Gifts of the Nile: Ancient Egyptian Faience, Florence Dunn Friedman (ed.), London: Thames and Hudson, 1998

Egyptian Faiance: Technology and Production, Carolyn Riccardelli, Department of Objects Conservation, December 2017, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ancient Technology: Faiance Beads in the Garstang Museum, Garstang Museum of Archaeology.

Ancient Egyptian Faience: An Analytical Survey of Egyptian Faience from Predynastic to Roman Times, Alexander Kaczmarczyk & Robert E. M. Hedges, Warminster: Aris & Phillips, 1983.