Royal Egyptian Beaded Lapis Necklace

This elegant semiprecious lapis necklace is inspired by a four-strand necklace with beads and amulets (ca. 2051–2030 B.C.) in The Met collection. The remarkable adornment in the Museum’s holdings, crafted during Egypt’s Middle Kingdom, belonged to a young girl named Mayet, who was only five years old when she was interred in King Mentuhotep II’s funerary complex at Deir el Bahri. Despite her simple burial, her necklaces are some of the finest jewelry that survives from this period, exhibiting technically brilliant manufacture considering the small size of the drilled stone beads. Signs of wear indicate that Mayet, or perhaps another woman, sported the necklace in their lifetime. 

Due to the natural elements in this jewelry, the color of the stones may vary.