Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

50 masterpieces

ancient masterpieces

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

A new book on jewellery from ancient Egypt, featuring 50 well-known masterpieces: at first I wondered why I would want to read this, as many of the pieces have been published before. Let me tell you, here and now, that I’m really glad I did! It’s definitely a wonderful addition to my library, and here is why you will love it, too.

What immediately caught my eye and initially persuaded me to buy the book, is the photography. Each jewellery item has been photographed so beautifully that just browsing through the book is such a delight. The photography is crisp, clear, modern and very attractive: it makes you observe the jewellery in another way and it certainly made me gasp at the intricate designs and high level of artistry these ancient jewelers achieved.

Each piece of jewellery is given its own spread (2 pages). One entire page is used for the image, and the other for the accompanying text. What I found very useful is the concise overview of all the details for each piece: materials, dimensions, date, owner, inventory numbers, and if at all known, excavation date and campaign. The main body of the text describes the piece in detail and explains the background and meaning of materials and motifs used. The result is that the book provides, seemingly in passing, an enormous amount of information about religion, economy, trade, history and craftsmanship.

Besides jewellery, the book also presents a few other forms of ornament, like a beautiful mirror, a stunning dagger that once belonged to a princess, and the daggers of Tutankhamun. From the early Dynastic period to the Roman period, the jewellery items in the book illustrate Egypt’s history, show its consistency in certain beliefs and traditions, and its innovative adaptations of new techniques, shapes and forms. All in all, this is a concise yet value-packed, and visually very pleasing book that you can’t go wrong with.

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry. 50 Masterpieces of Art and Design. By Nigel Fletcher-Jones. AUC Press, Cairo. 112 pages, full colour

Paint It, Black

by dr. Sigrid van Roode | Reviews

Paint it, Black

A biography of kohl containers

eye make-up

Paint it, Black

With a title so rock and roll, a book can only be fabulous, and is certainly what Paint it, Black by Jolanda Bos is. In this study, she zooms in on one of the most well-known objects from the Arab world and beyond: kohl containers. Kohl, kajal or surma is widely used to decorate eyes and eyelids. This practice dates back millennia; some of the oldest kohl containers come from ancient Egypt. Surprisingly enough however, no study into these items exited until now.

Kohl containers vary in size, shape and materials used throughout the regio under study in this book. By comparing their decoration and execution to that of other elements of costume and dress, it becomes possible to see where in the personal sphere these items belonged. In some countries, they are clearly at home in the realm of adornment and jewellery, while in other countries their place is more among dress and clothing. Associations like these tell us more about the values attached to these objects.

These values in turn are manifold. Throughout the book, their social and ritual values are presented and illustrated, but also their economical and technological values. In some countries, the containers are used in wedding rituals and as such imply a deeper meaning than just a container for make-up. This deeper level of meaning is also apparent in the many archaeological objects shown in the book, where protection and status were values closely connected to seemingly everyday utensils.

Beautifully illustrated and with a catalogue of over 30 objects, this book presents a unique overview of the history and use of kohl containers. I especially liked the intermittent ‘kohl stories’, in which an aspect of kohl (ancient and modern) is highlighted. This hardcover book will embellish your ethnographical library!

Here is a review of the book and photos of its UK launch in London, and here is a 13 minute podcast with the author about this topic.

Paint It, Black. A Biography of kohl containers, by Jolanda Bos (2019) Blikveld UItgevers Publishers

356 pp, full colour, in English. The book can be ordered directly with the publishers, via Oxbow books or via Casemate.

The book was a gift from the author and publisher.