Egyptian Faience Seed & Quartz Melon Bead Necklace (Auction 2026-06-05, Lot 161A)

$289.13

Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom to Late Period, ca. 1539 to 30 BCE. A strand of turquoise-blue faience seed beads punctuated by five ribbed quartz ‘melon’ beads, restrung in modern times with a metal hook clasp for wearing. The ribbed quartz forms – named for their resemblance to fruit – may allude to abundance and the life-giving properties of water in an arid landscape, complementing the long-standing Egyptian preference for blue-green materials associated with renewal. Size of strand: 21″ L (53.3 cm); largest bead: 0.5″ L x 0.3″ W (1.3 cm x 0.8 cm)

Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005

Condition: Chips to quartz and small nicks and pitting to faience beads. Strung in modern times and wearable with a metal hook clasp.