**First Time At Auction**

Ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate to Late Dynastic Period, 21st to 31st Dynasty, ca. 1070 to 332 BCE. An elegant necklace of a wearable form composed of hundreds of petite faience seed beads covered in layers of colorful glaze. The singular strands that rest behind the neck trace down and split into six even strands, and modern fluted silver spacer caps delineate the area of separation. 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 to make jewelry and were also used to make funerary nets to be placed over mummies. Strung in modern times and fastened with a silver-plated loop and lobster clasp combo, this is a wonderful example of ancient art meets modern fashion. Size (necklace): 17.875" L (45.4 cm); (largest bead): 0.125" W (0.3 cm)

Provenance: private Dunn collection, Coral Springs, Florida, USA, acquired in the 1990s

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#151490

Strung in modern times and wearable as shown. Faience beads are ancient, and stringing, silver spacer caps, and silver-plated components are modern. Minor nicks and abrasions to some beads, otherwise intact and very good. Smooth patina throughout.