Egyptian Faience Bead Necklace

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

A beautiful ancient Egyptian necklace, restrung for preservation, composed of small disc-shaped faience beads in a rich interplay of colors—red, black, blue, brown, and white. The balanced arrangement reflects the elegance and refinement of Egyptian jewelry-making.

Faience, an innovative glazed material of ground quartz coated with a lustrous alkaline glaze, was among the most celebrated mediums of Egyptian craftsmanship. Its luminous turquoise, green, and blue hues symbolized fertility, renewal, and eternal life, while additional tones introduced from the Old Kingdom onward imbued pieces with added symbolic depth.

More than ornament, necklaces such as this carried profound meaning. Faience beads were believed to embody rebirth and immortality, serving as protective amulets for both the living and the dead. Their shimmering colors also evoked prized stones like turquoise and lapis lazuli, making them both accessible and powerful.

Originating from Naukratis—an important Egyptian-Greek trading hub—this necklace is a rare survival and a superb testament to the enduring artistry of Egyptian craftsmen. Historically significant and visually striking, it offers both timeless beauty and a direct connection to one of the world’s greatest civilizations.

Condition: Good overall. Surface wear and abrasions consistent with age; minor chips, nicks, and attractive patina, with traces of discolouration and earthly encrustations. Length approx. 83,5 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.