The Bracelet-
Some pieces are amazing because they are comprised of incredible materials, some because they are difficult to create, and some because they can tell a story about a minute in history. This is one of those pieces.
A little back story- Discoveries of ancient artifacts have strongly influenced jewel making and there were two great periods of Egyptian revival. In the 1860’s the French were excavating for the Suez Canal and discovered Egyptian jewelry. It was so wonderfully exotic and unique it quickly became a popular trend and was reproduced in all shapes and sizes. In 1922 King Tut’s tomb was discovered and again brought the Egyptian style to the spotlight.
This bracelet dates to this later period of Egyptian Revival. It is silver, and has hallmarks indicating it was made in Cairo, Egypt and was imported into Nice, France in the early part of the 20th century, presumably the 1920’s. The Pliqué a Jour enamel and the imagery is just spectacular and even better we know what it means!
All the imagery of this bracelet actually depicts King Tutankhamun and findings within his tomb.
Starting on the Left- A painted alabaster unguent jar with a crouching lion on the lid. This jar would have been used to hold cosmetics and was found in King Tut’s tomb.
Bracelet; close up of cosmetic jar
Actual cosmetic jar found in Tut's tomb
The next; Tutankhamun & Ankhesenamun, wife of King Tutankhamun, she anoints her young husband in this image which forms the back of a gilded chair. She is the half-sister of Tutankhamun, daughter of Nefertiti and Akhenaten. The chair with this scene was discovered in his tomb.
Bracelet; close up of Tut and his lady
Actual image painted on guilded chair in King Tut's tomb
The central plaque is of King Tut himself! He is holding a crook and a flail. They were originally the attributes of the deity Osiris that became insignia of pharaonic authority. The shepherd's crook stood for kingship and the flail for the fertility of the land.
Bracelet; close up of Tut's sarcophagus
Tut's actual sarcophagus
Moving right along is a war scene showing Tut vanquishing Nubians and Syrians. Tutankhamun is in a chariot leading the Egyptian forces. This was painted on a wooden box also found in his tomb.
Bracelet; Close up of war scene
Actual wooden box in King Tut's tomb
Lastly a lovely Unguent vase. . Elongated vase flanked with floral openwork ornamentation, cut from a single block of alabaster. Presumably used as a perfume bottle which was also found in the tomb.
Bracelet; Close up of perfume bottle
Actual object in King Tut's Tomb
The story and the work make this just a wonderful piece of wearable history and we are lucky to have it in our shop.
