🎄 Holiday Sale now on! -   20% off healing jewellery & gifts!   Use code ~ XMAS24 ~ in your basket.

All orders will be processed after 5th Jan 2025  -  T&C's apply  -  See "Offers & Promotions" for full details.

Change currency
27 May 2007 16:00:00
Egyptian Gemstone Jewellery
Caryl

I recently received a request to create a replica of a bracelet found in the tomb of King Djer, who was the second Pharoah of Egypt's 1st dynasty.  The bracelets found in his tomb were originally created with Turquoise, Amethyst and Lapis Lazuli gemstones, along with pieces of gold.  They were beautifully designed, using alternating colours to combine patterns.

Although, I do have Turquoise, Amethyst and Lapis Lazuli gemstone pieces, I don't have the same sizes or shapes or even colours, of the gemstones used in these wonderful bracelets. Also, I am not yet working with gold but do have some wonderful silver pieces that I thought would work quite well, so I was quite excited about this challenge!

This also got me thinking about other jewellery from Ancient Egypt - what materials were used and why.  It turns out that some of the semi-precious gemstones used in jewellery making, were actually chosen for the magical properties of their colouring.  The colours generally used were green, red, blue, yellow and white.

Green symbolised new growth and fertility.  The most favoured green gemstone was Turquoise, although many Egyptian lapidaries also used Malachite, Green Jasper and Amazonite and, in later periods, Peridot and Beryl.  Red symbolised two extremes - life, as well as anger.  Favoured red gemstones were Red Jasper and Carnelian, however for some reason, Carnelian was later thought to be an ill-omened stone, meaning sadness.  Blue symbolised the heavens and water.  Lapis Lazuli, meaning joy or delight, was the favoured gemstone used.  Yellow symbolised "the eternal" or "indestructible".  The metal used to depict this was gold.  White symbolised purity and omnipotence, representing things that were sacred and simple.  Silver, known at the time as "White Gold", was used for this meaning.

This is just the beginning of what there is to know about how colours were used in the creation of gemstone jewellery in Ancient Egypt.  If there is anything you would like to add, please do.

In the meantime, here is the original bracelet and the bracelet I created.  I'd love to know what you think.

Egyptian 1st_Dynasty - Bracelet from the tomb of King Djer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newsletter
Sign up
Sign up and I’ll send you a healing angel guidance affirmation!

Mailing List

Unsuccessful - please try again

Thank You

Thanks for subscribing to our mailing list.

  • ✔︎

  • Handmade Jewellery in the UK
     
  • ✔︎

  • Genuine Crystals
     
  • ✔︎

  • Healing for Mind, Body & Spirit
     
.
      


© Copyright 2005-2024 Charms of Light®  - All rights reserved.

Charms Of Light® - for Mind, Body and Spirit.

Healing Jewellery, Gemstones & Crystals, Healing Gifts, Meditation Music, Angel Card Readings, Gemstone Consultations & Guidance, and Reiki Courses.
 
 
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Linked In Share on Pinterest Email to a friend More options
Share
Share on Facebook

Facebook

Share on Twitter

Twitter

Share on Google+

Google+

Share on Pinterest

Pinterest

Email to a friend

Email

Share on Linked In

Linked In

Share on Instagram

Instagram

Share on Tumblr

Tumblr

Share on Wordpress

Wordpress

Share on your blog

Re-blog

Close
Online - Start Chat?

Your name *

 

Cancel