LOT 0014

Egyptian Necklace with Fly Beads

NEW KINGDOM, 18TH DYNASTY, 1550-1350 B.C. AND LATER

19 in. (10.45 grams, 48.5 cm long).

Group of restrung annular turquoise beads with gilt-metal interstitial collars and carnelian fly amulets; S-hook and eye closure; with custom display box.

Ex Swiss collection, kept in London since the 1980s.

Accompanied by a copy of a previous illustrated catalogue page.

Cf. Andrews, C., Ancient Egyptian Jewellery, London, 1990, 174 no. 160a, for a similar necklace with gold flies.

Since Egyptian artists often depicted fly whisks in the hands of pharaohs and high officials, one might assume that flies were simply a nuisance. However, the Egyptians held flies in high regard due to their quick speed, reactions, and persistence. Small fly amulets first appeared in burials during the Naqada II Period, c. 3200 B.C. These amulets grew in popularity, and the materials used to make them expanded during the New Kingdom, including gold, silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian, amethyst, faience, and bone. Fly amulets were believed to protect against insect bites and to ward off troublesome airborne creatures through apotropaic magic. Some believe they may have even been intended to symbolise the fly’s fecundity. Additionally, pharaohs would bestow gold fly-shaped pendants as military awards to honour the bravery and fly-like persistence of soldiers in battle.