Egyptian Jewellery

The Ancient Egyptians exhibited a love of ornament and personal decoration from earliest Predynastic times.

Pectoral of Horus with sundisk, c. 1325 BC, gold with gemstones. Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

Bead aprons are first attested in the 1st Dynasty, while usekh broad collars became a standard type from the early Old Kingdom. In the Middle Kingdom, they had fallen from favour, to be replaced by finger-rings and ear ornaments. New Kingdom jewelry is generally more elaborate and garish than that of earlier periods, and was influenced by styles from the Ancient Greece and the Levant.

Jewellery, both royal and private, was replete with religious symbolism. It was also used to display the wealth and rank of the wearer. Royal jewels were always the most elaborate.

Pectorals

Pectorals were attached with a necklace and meant to be suspended from the neck but to lie upon the breast.

A later form was attached as a brooch, with the thematic, iconographic function and statement outweighing its actual use as a piece of jewellery for adornment.

  • Senusret II pectoral, c. 1880 BC.
    Senusret II pectoral, c. 1880 BC. (c) John Campana
  • Eye of Horus pectoral.
    Eye of Horus pectoral. (c) Jon Bodsworth
  • Scarab pectoral of Tutankhamun.
    Scarab pectoral of Tutankhamun. (c) Dalbera
  • Pectoral of Ramses II.
    Pectoral of Ramses II.

Usekh Collar

Usekh collars were a type of broad collar or necklace. It was wrapped around and supported by the neck and shoulders. It is typically adorned with closely placed rows of colored stone beads, or it is made entirely of metal. The collars were connected with clasps of gold.

Usekh collar of Senebtisi, c. 1850–1775 BC, faience, gold, carnelian and turquoise. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
  • Usekh Collar of Princess Neferuptah, c. 1860-1814 BC. Egyptian Museum, Cairo.
    Usekh Collar of Princess Neferuptah, c. 1860-1814 BC. Egyptian Museum, Cairo.
  • Usekh collar, c. 1981–1975 BC, faience and linen thread. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
    Usekh collar, c. 1981–1975 BC, faience and linen thread. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
  • Usekh collar, c. 1336-1327 BC, faience. Brooklyn Museum.
    Usekh collar, c. 1336-1327 BC, faience. Brooklyn Museum.

Rings

  • Gold Signet ring, c. 664–525 BC. British Museum.
    Gold Signet ring, c. 664–525 BC. British Museum. (c) Angel M. Felicisimo
  • Gold Signet ring with Tutankhamun's Throne Name, c. 1336–1327 BC. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
    Gold Signet ring with Tutankhamun’s Throne Name, c. 1336–1327 BC. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
  • Gold Signet ring of Akhenaten, 18th Dynasty. British Museum.
    Gold Signet ring of Akhenaten, 18th Dynasty. British Museum.
  • Scarab ring. Pitcairn collection.
    Scarab ring. Pitcairn collection.

Necklaces

1. Necklace with scarab amulets and inscription of Thuthmoses III. Pitcairn Collection.
2. Necklace with pendant of Duamutef, one of the sons of Horus. Pitcairn Collection.
3. Necklace with Djed pillar amulets. Pitcairn Collection.

Back to Egyptian Art