

|
As Egypt is the cradle of civilization, no doubt that it is also the cradle of the arts and the home of craftsmanship. Personal ornaments appear to have been among the very first objects on which the invention and ingenuity of man were exercised. In the beginning, natural objects, such as small shells, dried berries, small perforated stones, feathers of variegated colors, were combined by stringing or tying together to ornament the head, neck, arms and legs, the fingers, and even the toes
The earliest examples of Egyptian jewelry which have come down to us
are those of the Pre dynastic period (more than 3000 years B.C.), where the
Egyptians had been making beads and ornaments of semi precious stones such as
amethyst, lapis lazuli, cornelian, Quartz, Garnet, Turquoise
,
and other objects. They also used
man made materials such as glazed objects and colored glass imitating semi
precious stones. Most of the materials used in making these beads were chosen
for their color symbolization or amulet significance especially the ones used
in making funerary jewelry, as they had a religious and magical significance
in the Egyptian ancient world by protecting the wearer from evil. Turquoise
for example was a symbol of fertility, good luck, and as protection from the
evil eye.
Vests: This kind of jewelry is only found in ancient Egyptian jewelry. It was worn around the chest. It was usually made of silver or of silver-plated metal. Even when it was made of a cheap material, it was painted yellow to give a silveren impression |
|
click here to send e-mail