The « Musée du Caire » Collection

The fabled Cairo Museum, in Tahrir square for a few more years, hosts the world’s largest pharaonic collection including an amazing set of beads. The sparse information provided in the display cabinet leaves ample room to dream about where the beads came from, who made them, who wore them… It inspired this collection of 50 unique pieces, mixing antique and modern beads of similar style and origin as in the days of the Pharaohs : terra cotta, glass, seeds and shells, carnelian from India, lapis from Afghanistan, ostrich shell and horn from Africa…
This collection of unique and numbered pieces was commissioned by the Mashrabia Art Gallery, Cairo, Egypt.

La collection « Musée du Caire »

Cette est inspirée des vitrines de perles et de bijoux du fabuleux musée du Caire avant son déménagement à côté des pyramides. Les perles utilisées sont de même style ou de même origine qu’au temps des Pharaons, perles en terre cuite, coquillage, verre, ainsi que des perles, anciennes et modernes, provenant d’Inde (cornalines, agates, calcédoines), d’Afghanistan (Lapis Lazuli), d’Afrique (œuf d’autruche et cornes).
Cette collection de pièces uniques numérotées a été commanditée par la Galerie d’Art Mashrabia, au Caire.

MdC 1 :
Silver, chalcedony. The stone beads are likely to be medieval, made in Islamic India, for the African trade. Mounted on a silver chain. In Pharaonic times, silver was obtained through trade, tribute and booty from Syria and Palestine, as Egypt did not have any silver mines. It was considered more valuable than gold during the Middle Kingdom.

MdC 5 :
Ostrich shells, dried figs, coconut disks: all elements present in the Cairo museum collections. Mounted on silver. In Pharaonic times, most silver was imported from Asia and the Mediterranean countries.

MdC 10 :
2 carnelian beads likely to be medieval, made in Islamic India, for the African trade; silver, mounted on rubber. In Pharaonic times, similar carnelian beads were imported from western India.

MdC 9 :
African seeds and coconut disks, metal, mounted on a silver chain.

MdC 14 :
Calcedony and carnelian beads from Mali, likely to be medieval, made in Islamic India, for the African trade. Seeds from West Africa. Similar beads are presented in the Cairo Museum.

MdC 18 :
Shell and seeds from West Africa, hematite beads and black basalt from China. Silver tube and chain. In Pharaonic times, silver was obtained through trade, tribute and booty, from what is now Syria and Palestine, as Egypt did not have any silver mines. It was considered more valuable than gold during the Middle Kingdom.

MdC 21 :
Lapis from Afghanistan, glass chandelier piece, amber from the Baltic sea. In Pharaonic times, amber came from the Baltic along "the Amber road".

MdC 25 :
Mother of pearl; Indian carnelian beads, wooden beads. In Pharaonic times, carnelian beads were imported from western India.

MdC 27 :
Lapiz lazuli from Afghanistan and glass beads. Mounted on a bronze chain. In the Cairo collection, many types of brightly colored glass bead, of various sizes and shapes, are on display.

MdC 30 :
Shell from West Africa, hematite beads from China. Silver tube and chain. In Pharaonic times, silver was obtained through trade, tribute and booty, from what is now Syria and Palestine, as Egypt did not have any silver mines. It was considered more valuable than Gold during the Middle Kingdom.

MdC 35 :
Lapis and onyx from Afghanistan, amber from the Baltic sea, blue glass beads from Mali, In Pharaonic times, amber came from the Baltic along "the Amber road".

MdC 32 :
Modern Indian carnelian, coconut disk, wooden bead, silver. In Pharaonic times carnelian beads were imported from western India while silver was obtained through trade, tribute and booty, from what is now Syria and Palestine, as Egypt did not have any silver mines. It was considered more valuable than Gold during the Middle Kingdom.

MdC 36 :
Indonesian millefiori with a core of monochrome glass, probably a vintage copy of 10th to 16th century East Java beads, often referred to as Jatim beads; shells from Senegal; silver chain. In Pharaonic times the technique for millefiori beads was already mastered; silver was obtained through trade, tribute and booty, from what is now Syria and Palestine, as Egypt did not have any silver mines. It was considered more valuable than Gold during the Middle Kingdom.

MdC 3 :
Amethyst and carnelian beads, from Afghanistan and India. Opaque early 20th century glass beads from West Africa, coconut disks, modern white and brown glass beads. In Pharaonic times, amethyst was mined in the Whadi El Hudi Mine, in the Eastern Desert and in the Nubian Province and glass beads were made locally and all around the Mediterranean shores.

MdC 4 :
Turbo samarticus shell, from the beaches of South Africa. The Cairo Museum presents several similar shells – Turbo opercula – which in Pharaonic times were imported from the Red Sea . Mounted on rubber.

MdC 8 :
2 Neolithic chalcedony beads from Mali, an antique, probably medieval small opaque yellow quartz bead from Mali, sea shore shells and colored leather. Very similar chalcedony beads are presented in many of the Cairo Museum collections.

MdC 11 :
Calcedony and silver, mounted on rubber. The bead, from Mali, is likely to medieval, made in Islamic India, for the African trade. In Pharaonic times, chalcedony beads were imported from western India and similar beads are on display in Cairo Museum.

MdC 15 :
Glass beads from Ghana, seeds and shells from Senegal, silver. Silver chain. In Pharaonic times, silver was obtained through trade, tribute and booty, from what is now Syria and Palestine, as Egypt did not have any silver mines. It was considered more valuable than gold during the Middle Kingdom.

MdC 17 :
Late 20th century horn from Cameroon, ostrich shell, urchin spines and silver. In Pharaonic times, both hippopotamus and elephant ivory were in use as well as cattle horn Silver was obtained through trade, tribute and booty, from what is now Syria and Palestine, as Egypt did not have any silver mines. It was considered more valuable than gold during the Middle Kingdom.

MdC 19 :
Shell from West Africa, hematite beads, mother of pearl, silver tube and chain. In Pharaonic times, silver was obtained through trade, tribute and booty, from what is now Syria and Palestine, as Egypt did not have any silver mines. It was considered more valuable than gold during the Middle Kingdom.

MdC 22 :
Neolithic stone bead from Mali; late 20th century horn from Cameroon. Silver beads. Mounted on rubber. In Pharaonic times, both hippopotamus and elephant ivory were in use as well as cattle horn, the elephant ivory being imported from Nubia.

MdC 26 :
Basalt and ceramic beads from China, silver elements; mounted on rubber. In Pharaonic times, silver was obtained through trade, tribute and booty, from what is now Syria and Palestine, as Egypt did not have any silver mines. It was considered more valuable than Gold during the Middle Kingdom.

MdC 28 :
Turbo samarticus shell, from the beaches of South Africa. The Cairo Museum presents several similar shells – Turbo opercula – which in Pharaonic times were imported from the Red Sea.

MdC 31 :
Neolithic chalcedony beads from Mali; mounted on rubber. The Cairo collection displays many necklaces with very similar beads.

MdC 34 :
Modern Indian carnelian, ostrich shell from South Africa, silver. In Pharaonic times, carnelian beads were imported from western India. while silver was obtained through trade, tribute and booty, from what is now Syria and Palestine, as Egypt did not have any silver mines. It was considered more valuable than gold during the Middle Kingdom.

MdC 37 :
Indonesian millefiori with a core of monochrome glass, probably a vintage copy of 10th to 16th century East Java beads, often referred to as Jatim beads; shells from Senegal; red seeds and wooden beads; silver chain. In Pharaonic times the technique for millefiori beads was already mastered; silver was obtained through trade, tribute and booty, from what is now Syria and Palestine, as Egypt did not have any silver mines. It was considered more valuable than Gold during the Middle Kingdom.

MdC 40 :
Vintage golden necklace and lapis lazuli from Afghanistan.

MdC 2 :
Terra cotta weaver’s spindle from Nigeria; yellow glass beads from Ghana; 19th century white glass beads - manufactured in Germany for the West Africa Market; vintage conus shell from Mauritania; bivalve shell from the beach. Similar pierced shells and beads are presented in Cairo Museum

MdC 6 :
Modern glass and bauxite beads from West Africa; amber from the Baltic, chalcedony and carnelian beads likely to be medieval and to have been made in Islamic India, for the African trade. In Pharaonic times, amber came from the Baltic along "the Amber road".

MdC 7 :
Early 20th century African ivory ring mounted on rubber. In Pharaonic times, both hippopotamus and elephant tusks were in use, the elephant ivory being imported from Nubia. The Cairo Museum displays superb ivory beads and bracelets.

MdC 13 :
Calcedony beads from Mali, likely to be medieval, made in Islamic India, for the African trade. Copper tubes, seed and coconut disks from West Africa. In Pharaonic times, similar chalcedony beads were imported from western India.

MdC 12 :
Vintage shell beads from India, wooden beads.

MdC 16 :
Calcedony beads from Mali, likely to be medieval, made in Islamic India, for the African trade. Conus shell from Mauritania. Similar stone and shell beads are on display in the Cairo Museum.

MdC 20 :
Amethyst and black stone beads from China; horn ring. In Pharaonic times, amethyst was mined in the Whadi El Hudi Mine, in the Eastern Desert and in the Nubian Province. Both cattle horn and ivory from elephants and hippopotamus were used for jewelry in Pharaonic times. Mounted on rubber.

MdC 24 :
Vintage Mediterranean coral, sea, shells, mother of pearl. In Pharaonic times, coral was sourced from the Red Sea.

MdC 23 :
Seeds from west Africa, copper chain.

MdC 29 :
Neolithic chalcedony bead from Mali; early 20th century ostrich shell from South Africa, coconut disks and wooden beads. Mounted on a silver chain. Similar beads are on display in Cairo Museum.

MdC 33 :
Green and yellow glass beads: Hebron beads, late 18th to mid-19th century. The Hebron Glass industry was first established during the Roman empire. Coconut disks, large seed from Senegal, wooden beads. Mounted on leather string from Mali.

MdC 38 :
Neolithic chalcedony beads from Mali, ostrich shell and coral, silver tubes. Very similar chalcedony beads are presented in many of the Cairo Museum collection. In Pharaonic times, coral was sourced from the Red Sea and silver was obtained through trade, tribute and booty, from what is now Syria and Palestine, as Egypt did not have any silver mines. It was considered more valuable than Gold during the Middle Kingdom.

MdC 39 :
Glass beads from Ghana, coconut disks and bronze central bead from Nigeria. Mounted on bronze. Artisans in Pharaonic times already used the lost wax technique seen here in the central bead.