Lisa Black Jewellery

Jewellery has played many multi-faceted roles in ancient Egypt. In addition to men and women’s natural attraction to beautiful items, jewellery has had a religious and magical significance in the Egyptian world since ancient times.

It is clear that the ancient Egyptians loved ornamentation. Items of adornment were valued not only for beauty but also for the magical and spiritual protection it provided for its wearer. Ancient turquoise, carnelian, pure gold, carved bone, as well as emerald, ruby and sapphire were incorporated into much of the Egyptian ornament – not only for adorning the living but also the dead – as Egyptians were keen to take items of beauty into the tomb with them.

Minerals and metals were actually identified with specific deities as well as with definite spiritual and therapeutic values. Thus the words for lapis lazuli and turquoise were synonymous with joy and delight, respectively.

The Egyptian Eye of Horus or wedjat (‘Whole One’) was considered by the ancient Egyptians to be an extremely powerful protective amulet. It is believed to confer wisdom, health and prosperity. These amulets and figurines were often made of Faience, the first synthetic ceramic material used almost exclusively for non-utilitarian items of personal adornment. Now highly sought after, faience was once considered the poor man’s jewel.