Ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate to Late Dynastic Period, 21st to 31st Dynasty, ca 1070 to 332 BCE. This is an incredible beaded adornment made from hundreds of faience beads in a net like weave to use as a funerary shroud on a mummy! The tubular faience beads are strung on cotton threads in a loose weave with intersecting strands creating large diamond shapes. The netting would have covered the outer wrappings of a mummy on the torso and chest area, sometimes extending to the feet. These shrouds assured rebirth by connecting the body of the deceased with the god of the underworld Osiris, and sky goddess Nut. Beaded garments of a similar design for the living were also in fashion at the time of this woven shroud. The multi-colored faience beads are glazed in lovely shades of blue teal and green - symbolic of the Nile and sky. The netting is mounted to modern linen backing on a wood panel and ready to frame as a striking display piece. Size (beaded net): 26" L x 8" W (66 cm x 20.3 cm); (mounting board): 10.75" L x 0.3" W x 31.5" H (27.3 cm x 0.8 cm x 80 cm)

The Egyptians of the Dynastic Period had always been fond of jewelry in faience, a quartz-based ceramic with brilliant colors, but it was not until the 1st millennium BC that jewelry was applied over the last shroud, protecting the mummy with symbols of the great gods of the hereafter.

For a similar example please see the Brooklyn Museum website, accession number: 37.1814E.

Provenance: private West Hollywood, USA collection, acquired before 2010; ex-private New York, USA collection, acquired by descent; ex-collection of a foreign services diplomat, Connecticut, USA, acquired in the 1940s to 1950s

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#170453

Fraying and losses threads along peripheries. Losses to net weave with large gaps as shown. Chips and losses to beads. Mineral and earthen deposits scattered throughout. Professionally mounted a modern linen covered board and ready to frame.