Egyptian Alabaster Cuff
Published On: 11-14-2011 08:48pm
Comments: 1 - Hits: 345
Category: Egypt
It is finally time to reveal the very first piece in my new Egyptian jewelry collection, and it turned out beautifully! My inspiration was the repeating geometric patterns on an alabaster vessel discovered among the Ancient treasures of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.This alabaster boat receptacle was among more than two thousand artifacts discovered in the final stage of Howard Carter’s excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb. The final room in the sepulchre to be explored was the annexe, and it was also the most difficult to catalogue.
Several robbery attempts shortly after the Pharaoh’s death left the tomb in a cluttered and disorganized state. It is unclear why workers who tended the necropolis were unable to repair the damages before resealing the tomb, but evidence of the thievery was left behind in their haste, giving archeologists something more to puzzle over centuries later.
The alabaster carving itself also baffles Egyptologists. The hollow inner chamber could have been made to hold any number of objects. Though the inscriptions don’t indicate what the vessel was intended for, it is believed to be an ointment or cosmetics jar. The boat, with a pair of ibex heads featuring real horns, is likely a funerary barge. The central carving appears to be a sarcophagus.
This artifact is one of my favorite Ancient Egyptian designs. The subtle contrast of black and gold against the creamy color of the alabaster embodies that distinct Egyptian look beautifully. It was an absolute pleasure to draw inspiration from the ancient craftsperson who created it.
The alabaster inspired bracelet is woven with a variation of Ndebele herringbone, a beading technique of African origin. To capture the look of the decorated alabaster, I used beads in opalescent cream, shiny jet black, and a rusty red brown. The pattern on the cuff is a fairly good imitation, with rows of red and black checks, dots, and spears. The beadwork has just the right amount of flex, but stays stiff enough to keep a nice shape around the wrist, like a traditional leather cuff.
There are many more designs to come in this collection - I can’t wait to share them!
-Mortira
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By Guest on 03/15/2012 @ 01:14am
Very interesting...love the bracelet and things Ancient Egyptian! dotb