Ancient Egyptian artisans crafted designs not only to show the social status of the wearer but for ceremonial and ritualistic wear. Examples have been unearthed of the following forms: Amulets & Pendants; Bangles, Bracelets & Anklets; Pectorals, Girdles & Collars and Earrings, & Finger Rings. – Crafted from stone, bone, polished glass, gold and semiprecious stones.

The design, materials and colours used all had bearing on the ability of the piece to serve its purpose…

Red not only represented blood, it was symbolic of power and life force. Green was used to represent fertility and new life,  it was also the colour of rebirth and resurrection. Between green and blue came Turquoise (Mefkat) which translated means ‘Joy’ and ‘Delight’. Blue represented the all encompassing sky.

Scarab jewellery was inscribed with words from the ‘Book of the Dead’ for when it would be weighed against the feather of truth. The inscription reads ‘Do not stand as witness against me.’

The cartouche, an oval of hieroglyphs originally worn only by Pharaoh and the Gods, was a protective amulet to keep the king safe from evil spirits. The whole cartouche represents the lands ruled over by pharaoh, a rope circling his throne as the sun encircles the lands he rules.

Ankh jewellery symbolises life force and life eternal. There have been debates as to what the cruciform shape represents, some see the loop and cross as elemental in nature, representing water and air – the breath of life. Others see it as a union of male and female.

The Eye of Horus is worn as a protective amulet. Originally worn to ward off illness, it was placed inside the wrappings of the mummy, over the incision where internal organs were removed. It was to promote good luck, as it was unlucky to travel to the afterlife with a damaged body.