Symbolic Jewelry of Ancient Egypt

Jewelry of ancient Egypt, worn by not just women but men, holds great historical significance for us today. Pieces like bracelets, collar necklaces, anklets, earrings, and fillets were on display daily in ancient Egypt as part of their normal dressing style, and even the dead were buried in ornate jewelry under the assumption that they’ll find use for them in an afterlife. The Egyptians are believed to have started the mastery creating jewelry art pieces through the use of gemstones and metal.

Symbols Used in Ancient Egyptian jewelry

Jewelry worn during the ancient Egyptian era was decorated with symbols that had specific significance. One of the most important symbols was the dung beetle or the scarab and was believed to represent rebirth.

Other symbols were charm necklaces and amulets.  These were another popular jewelry that was worn in everyday Egyptian life. These pieces also adorned the deceased; it was believed that surrounding the body with amulets and gemstones would ensure more protection and safety in the afterlife.

Gemstones of Ancient Egypt

Gemstones used in ancient Egypt to craft jewelry include garnet, malachite, Hematite, serpentine, turquoise, peridot, Lapis lazuli, Fluorite, Amazonite, carnelian and all manner of quartz. Cutting tools and grinding stones were used to shape the gemstones, with skilled artisans being exclusively employed by members of the upper class to create designs that were unique to their family.

While Egyptian jewelry included brooches, bracelets, coronets, clasps, girdles and earrings, it did have some very unique pieces that are readily recognizable as specific to that era. For example, the pectoral is an enormous breast decoration which has been found on various Egyptian mummies, and a headdress that resembled an outer wig was also unique to the Egyptian dress. And not just the dress but even normal household items like plates, vases and furniture contained hammered gold and jewels as part of its decoration.

Color Representation in Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

The color of jewelry made in ancient Egypt was also highly symbolic. The color green was associated with fertility and good yield, while the deceased were believed to be dressed in red to satisfy the blood hunger of the goddess Isis.

Use of Precious metals in Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

Initially copper was used to carve ancient Egyptian jewelry and was later, as forging technology was developed, replaced by tin and copper which used to make bronze.  From there, silver (or the white metal) and later, gold. A naturally occurring alloy made from gold, silver and traces of copper referred to as Electrum was also used in making jewelry in ancient Egypt.

The more things change, the more they stay the same!  The use of symbols held a very great importance in the jewelry making in Egypt, identified in the many excavations of tombs and the great pyramids, still hold true today. Gold and diamonds currently serve as our main materials, and hearts, infinity loops, and religious symbols as our symbols, with unique designs gaining popularity.

And lest we forget, your jewelry treasures need an equally safe and unique method of storage, from luxury jewelry boxes to standing jewelry armoires!

Happy April!

Noelle, Guest Blogger, Chasing Treasure

Solid Cherry Jewelry Chest for Your Unique Treasures

Women’s jewelry boxes – Always a Popular Gift

Standing Jewelry Amoire

Women’s jewelry boxes have been popular gifts for hundreds of years, and are as in demand as ever.  The variety of styles, usefulness, and the heirloom quality that this gift offers denote a thoughtfulness and value to satisfy both giver and receiver.

Almost every woman (as well as many men!) owns jewelry -- whether precious family heirlooms, wedding jewelry, or occasion-based jewelry (such as formal, informal, and “going out” styles).  The size of the jewelry collection is therefore the initial consideration:  If the woman in your life has a large collection of jewelry, as well as delicates such as lingerie or scarves, then a standing jewelry armoire is a great choice.  These securely store every type of jewelry, and store necklaces exceptionally well due to the large swing-out sides.  These types of jewelry boxes have larger drawers at the bottom for storing bedside delicates & lingerie.  Smaller options for smaller collections are also available, like dresser-top armoires, and jewelry cases & chests.

The next consideration will be the style, color, and price.  The giver must know the recipient and shop around to find the right jewelry box.  When purchasing online, always look for a good return policy & warranty.  Generally speaking, the larger and more exotic the wood, the higher the price.  Solid Cherry & Bubinga wood are the most common types of exotic wood.  Cherry is especially popular due to its solid structure and Cherry wood smell.

Women’s jewelry boxes remain popular not just because they serve the practical purpose of storing jewelry:  they also add to a woman’s bedroom décor, so design is also an important consideration.  Styles range from antique, traditional, to modern.  The type of wood, paint, and leg (for the floor standing jewelry cases) define each, so that a jewelry box or standing jewelry armoire gift can be unique and tailored to the recipient’s need and tastes.  And an engraved plate is an especially popular personal touch, especially when it denotes an anniversary or other special occasion.

When looking for a special gift for the woman in your life, whether for her birthday, anniversary, or holiday, consider a jewelry box and the customizable aspects they offer:  different sizes to accommodate any variety of jewelry collections, different styles to match her unique taste and décor, and different price points to fit any budget!

Solid Cherry Jewelry Chest in Mahogany Finish

By guest blogger, Noelle Macaraeg

Engraved Plates for a Jewelry Box – That Personal Touch

Engraved Name - The Personalized Touch!

 An engraved name plate adds just the right personal touch to a jewelry box gift, and are available for ChasingTreasure's jewelry boxes, armoires, music boxes, & watch cases.

There are three basic types of personalization:  initials, monogram, and message.

The initials are of the recipient, not the giver (seems obvious, yes, but we have been asked!), and can be two or three initials.  In the case of two, the order will be the first letter of the first & last name, in that order.  If three initials, a middle name is added and the order is first, middle, last.

For monogram style, all three initials are used, with the order altered to be:  first name initial, last name, middle name, with the last name initial more prominent with a larger font.

Messages are obvious and can be the recipient’s name, or, more likely, a special event such as an anniversary, wedding, or engagement.  Longer messages can go to two lines, which is almost always the max number of lines for an engraved plate.  Obviously, the longer the message, the smaller the type, and we at ChasingTreasure limit to 23 characters total.

While many jewelry boxes comes with nameplates directly from the manufacturer, most are shipped separately, where the recipient affixes the plate to the jewelry box him/herself.  There is no concern about the quality of the attaching glue, as the adhesive used is extremely strong.  So strong, in fact, that you have to be very careful that you place it correctly the first time, as removing it will damage the underlying wood (a reason why we cannot accept returns with the plate attached).

Brass or nickel finish, script or block font, make up the selections.  The most popular choice is brass script, and arrives in 3 to 4 days from shipping, and the plates are laser engraved.

Whatever the occasion, an engraved plate gives a wonderful personal touch to be remembered through the years and decades to come, and a perfect luxury jewelry box gift for a wife!

Holiday Special - Receive a FREE Engraved name plate with any American Chest jewelry box purchase at ChasingTreasure.com, a $25 value.

Solid Cherry Hardwood Jewelry Box

Hardwood vs MDF in the Manufactur of Luxury Jewelry Boxes

Solid Cherry Hardwood Jewelry Chest

One of the considerations to make when purchasing a luxury jewelry box is the type of material used to make it.  The predominant method the use of a material referred to as MDF, which stands for medium density fibreboard, which incorporates high grade, composite material with wood.  The other method is to manufacture from solid wood.  Why not always use solid wood, and how do I determine which to buy?  I’m glad you asked!

MDF Manufacturing
The main issue when using wood as a luxury, quality material is its longevity.  Wood absorbs moisture (in fact, it needs moisture!) at different temperatures.  This simply means that wood will bend and warp over time due to natural changes in temperature and humidity.  As an aside, this is the original reason for painting wood, to seal in moisture and limit the negative effects of temperature and humidity.

Composite materials that are combined with the wood have a lower density (more microscopic air pockets), which absorbs the contraction/expansion of wood under temperature and humidity changes in the air.  This results in greater flexibility, making the jewelry box less susceptible to warping & bending.  The advantage of this for a jewelry box is obvious:  it is almost guaranteed to hold up over the decades.  The use of ornate inlay, polished finishes, plush interiors, unique designs, and quality hardware, combined with the durability of MDF, is what gives MDF construction its luxurious qualities.  MDF is used by top manufacturers because it is highly resistant to bending or warping, which means the jewelry box is likely to remain as beautiful in 30 years as it was the day it was made, with basic care of course!

Solid Wood in Manufacturing
Most people view solid wood as the highest quality, and this is partially true.  Top quality solid wood manufacturing is generally more expensive, this is due to the extra effort required to make quality wood furnishings from hardwood:  greater emphasis on curing and sealing the wood, along with much tighter tolerances at the seams.

The attraction of solid hardwoods is understandable, especially for luxury jewelry boxes.  Solid hardwood construction leads to jewelry boxes that are much heavier, up to 30%, which implies higher quality and durability. Also, the wood can have beautiful patterns and individual attributes that makes the solid wood box completely unique, like a fingerprint.  And, in the case of cherry, the beautiful smell is timeless and unmistakable.

In conclusion, solid hardwood construction will always have the top appeal (and generally higher cost) for luxurious jewelry boxes, but don’t let this dissuade you from non-solid hardwoods:  they are (practically) guaranteed to last, and will look just as beautiful, especially when inlaid with exotic woods like Bubinga!