egyptian

Egyptian treasures and jewelry are made using many minerals and stones such as turquoise, lapis, jasper, amethyst and gold. The pectorals, circlets, collars and objects were made in many colors, materials and techniques. Often faience was used in place of an actual stone. Faience is a glazed non-clay ceramic material or silica composed of crushed quartz or sand with lime, natron or plant ash. It was fired like a ceramic with a coating of soda-lime-silica glaze. Colors created were bright blue green (turquoise), white, yellows, reds, browns and blacks. 

stunning turquoise colored faience beaded necklace

gold, lapis, turquoise and carnelian necklaces from the 18th Dynasty c. 1370-1350 BC

carnelian, agate and faience beads simply strung on twine at the Met

egyptian revival bib necklace