**First Time At Auction**

Ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate to Late Dynastic Period, 21st to 31st Dynasty, ca. 1070 to 332 BCE. A gorgeous and wearable necklace composed of hundreds of glazed faience seed beads. A single strand (behind the neck) branches out into four individual strands cascading in front, and modern fluted sterling silver spacer caps separate the single strand and the four strands. The ancient Egyptians referred to faience as "tjehnet" - meaning brilliant or dazzling - and was made from ground quartz or sand crystals together with various elements. Faience beads were used in everyday jewelry and were also used to make burial nets to be placed over mummies. Strung in modern times and secured with a modern sterling silver loop and lobster clasp combo, this is a beautiful example of wearable ancient Egyptian art! Size (necklace): 19.125" L (48.6 cm); (largest bead): 0.15" Diameter (0.4 cm)

Provenance: ex-private Simonian collection, Switzerland, acquired around 1972

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#147581

Strung in modern times and wearable as shown. Faience beads are ancient, and stringing and sterling silver and silver-plated components are modern. Minor nicks and fading to glaze pigmentation on some beads, though most are covered in rich patina.