Jewelry has played various roles in ancient Egypt. In addition to man's natural attraction to beautiful items, jewelry had a religious and magical significance in the Egyptian ancient world by protecting the wearer from evil.
Ancient Egyptians began making their jewelry during the Badari and Naqada eras from simple natural materials; for example, plant branches, shells, beads, solid stones or bones. These were arranged in threads of flax or cow hair. To give these stones some brilliance, Egyptians began painting them with glass substances. Since the era of the First Dynasty, ancient Egyptians were skilled in making jewelry from solid semiprecious stones and different metals such as gold and silver.
The first evidence of jewelry making in Ancient Egypt dates back to the 4th millennia BC, to the Predynastic Period of along the Nile River Delta in 3100 BC, and the earlier Badarian culture (named after the El-Badari region near Asyut) which inhabited Upper Egypt between c.4500 BC and c.3200 BC. From 2950 BC to the end of Pharaonic Egypt at the close of the Greco-Roman Period in 395 AD, there were a total of thirty-one dynasties, spanning an incredible 3,345 years.
Egyptian jewelry items included such commonly found ornamentation as bracelets, brooches, clasps, coronets, girdles, and earrings, but also included items that were unique to ancient Egypt. The pectoral, which is an ornamental item that has been found on many mummies, is an elaborate breast decoration that was suspended by chain or ribbon, and decorated to represent various dieties. There was also a unique headdress that formed a type of outer wig, flowing like waves of hair in long, flexible strands of gold beads. This was held in place by a gold diadem, which was designed to secure the wig during ceremonies.
In ancient Egypt, gem carvings (glyptic art) in the form of scarab beetles and other sacred objects was worn for its religious significance. Both men and women wore jewelry as protection from evil and as a symbol of wealth and status as well as for adornment. Jewelry was worn by wealthy Egyptians in life, but it was also worn by them in death in order to assist in the journey to, and serve as comforts in, the afterlife.Today Egyptian jewelry makers make beautiful imitations of ancient Egyptian jewelry which are sold in jewelry stores or on online shops on the Internet. Most of the Paharaonic style jewelry are silver and gold utilizing the Ankh symbol, cartouche and ancient Egyptian gods, kings and queens.
Jewellery has always been a fascination, especially when it involves ancient signs and symbols. Egyptian jewellery is popular all over the world because of its magical quality and the mysteries that it holds. Ancient Egyptian jewellery symbols include the Scarab, ankh, the eye of Horus, pyramids, the healing sign, and Temple Gate. Many other ancient signs are also popular which are still considered powerful and sacred by some people.
This unique craft though is making a comeback in Pasadena, California, of all places. Internationally known as the city that hosts the News Years Day Rose Parade, it now also can boast a new store called ElizaWire Jewelry Designs which is carrying on the ancient art of wire sculpted jewelry. This style of jewelry is also referred to as wire wrap jewelry, but artist, Elizabeth Smith, owner of ElizaWire Jewelry, prefers to describe her work as wire sculpting because it’s a more accurate reflection of her work. According to her, “wire wrapped jewelry is really only the technique that literally wraps a gemstone in place with little decoration or design, but sculpted wire design incorporates artistic twists and turns of the wire itself to make a unique design that will showcase the gemstone.
The new store has opened up within Pasadena’s Premier Jewelry Mall in the Playhouse district of the city, next to the Paseo Colorado shopping/theater/dining complex. The store’s is located in the historic Pacific Southwest Trust & Savings Bank building which features marble floors, and ornately decorated high ceilings, with sky lights. Their grand opening corresponds to the opening of their new website, ElizaWire.com , as well. There they plan to showcase their latest creations available for sale in the store, and on-line as well.
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