My Heart Goes to Egypt

Egyptian inspired jewelry using bead embroidery as the main technique.
Photography and Lay-out by Stib Calma 

The ancient Egyptians were one of the first civilizations in the world to use elevate jewelry making into an art form. Their primary medium in their creations was gold, as befits most cultures that worshipped the sun. The Egyptians believed that their gods had bodies that were made of gold that shined liked the sun, thus placing a deep significance to this precious metal.

Here's a closer look of the art jewelry necklace inspired by Egyptian Jewelry. 

By 1200 B.C. the Egyptians have become so adept at using gold that they were able to develop sophisticated techniques that allowed them to create alloys, which allowed them to shape more intricate figures. Tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs, living incarnates of the gods themselves, were decked with intricate creations and regal splendor.

We made different versions, however sticking to neutral colors
such as black and white.
Photography by Carlo Cayabyab

Sadly, looters and treasures hunters have ransacked most of these tombs over the millennia, and we today can only imagine the magnificence of what might have been. The monuments marking death were also vessels, in which the mighty rulers of ancient Egypt would use for their journey into the afterlife, were filled with precious ornaments to show their civilization’s wealth and power.

History of Egyptian Jewelry from the book Jewelry International Vol. II
by Caroline Childers

In 1922 the tomb of perhaps one of the most famous pharaohs, Tutankhamen, was discovered. Inside were immensely valuable objects that signified the boy-king’s life as a ruler. There, Egyptologists found Tutankhamen’s burial mask, a near-perfect replication of his features made with solid gold. Royal symbols adorned the mask, including gold and blue glass figures of a cobra and vulture that symbolized Lower and Upper Egypt. They also found a cold-covered throne that had depictions of Queen Ankhesenamun anointing the young king. Sheets of gold were inlayed with colored glass and semiprecious stones, and in between them were representations of the Sun deity. Every inch of the throne was covered with religious symbols and secular endeavors, signifying the greatness of the culture that rose to dominate the entirety of the banks of the Nile River.

Relics such as these are the only instances in which we from the modern world can hope to view this ancient, mysterious, and glorious civilization.

History of Egyptian Jewelry from the book Jewelry International
 Vol. II by Caroline Childers

Custom-made necklace taking inspiration from
 Egyptian Jewelry neckline structure. 

It is the love for jewelry that pushes me to be inspired and to learn more about this art form. Nowadays, we think of jewelry as mass produced items that are readily available to purchase-- from fine, bridge and costume jewelry. It is great to look back on the history,  essence of ornamentation and philosophy behind the production of jewelry.  

Keeping it real. -PJV