Ancient Egyptian Jewelry by Nigel Fletcher-Jones - 9789774169656

The American University in Cairo Press

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry50 Masterpieces of Art and Design\nAuthor(s): Nigel Fletcher-Jones\nFormat: Hardback\nPublisher: The American University in Cairo Press, Egypt\nImprint: The American University in Cairo Press\nISBN-13: 9789774169656, 978-9774169656\nSynopsis\nJewelry was worn by ancient Egyptians at every level of society and, like their modern descendants, they prized it for its aesthetic value, as a way to adorn and beautify the body. It was also a conspicuous signifier of wealth, status, and power. But jewelry in ancient Egypt served another fundamental purpose: its wearers saw it as a means to absorb positive magical and divine powersto protect the living, and the dead, from the malignant forces of the unseen. The types of metals or stones used by craftsmen were magically important, as were the colors of the materials, and the exact positioning of all the elements in a design. \n\nAncient Egyptian Jewelry: 50 Masterpieces of Art and Design draws on the exquisite collection.