Although traces of jewelry have been found as far back as the Neolithic era, it was the Egyptians who carved jewelry making in history. The brilliance of these ancient Egyptian jewelers is evident in ancient tombs which contain both engraved stones and pieces of jewelry that were kept with the mummies. The jeweler at that time is not only capable of creating pieces for adornment, but is also skillful in metal engraving such as the minting of coins.
The materials used for jewelry making was not limited to a few. A wide variety of minerals were fashioned into jewelry including amethyst, carnelian, jasper, hematite, lapis lazuli, onyx, serpentine, soapstone, turquoise and quartz crystal. The use of a mineral or metal is dependent on the meaning that it carries. Lapis lazuli is associated with joy while turquoise, with delight. Green jasper guarantees rain while gold is connected with the sun and solar deities.
Jewelries produced at this time were almost never used for adornment alone. Most were used as amulets or talismans, and the figure that it carries has symbolic significance. Initially, these amulets were kept with the mummies to ensure protection of the dead. Soon however, these were also used to protect the living. Beads were a major component of amulets – anyone in any order can wear beads but the material used is dependent on what one can afford. The designs on these talismans were symbolic. The Four Sons of Horus were a favorite design for funeral jewelries as they were believed to protect both the dead in their journey to the afterlife and their internal organs which were removed during the mummification process. The eye of Horos on the other hand symbolizes eternity and the fly with the human head gives one the ability to rise to heaven. But perhaps the most famous figure, which had become an ageless motif for jewelry designs, is the scarab or the dung beetle. The scarab represents renewal and resurrection and is used both by the living and the dead.
The scarab can come in many forms and a variety of materials ranging from gold to clay can be used to shape it. It can also be engraved from stone like amethyst, carnelian, jasper or any gem that can be afforded by the owner. From its initial use as an amulet, the scarab evolved to become an official seal. It is usually mounted on the finger ring and was used by high ranking officials in this era.
It is said that the Egyptians mastered the craft of jewelry making, especially of goldsmithing, during the Middle Kingdom. Glass also became a major component of jewelry at this time resulting to more colorful pieces. Glass took the place of stones and was soon popularized when they were placed in rings.
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