Floral collars composed of real flowers, leaves, berries, and other perishable organic materials were imitated in durable form using molded faience (quartz-based glazed composition) elements. They were the "costume jewelry" of ancient Egypt. Banquet scenes painted on tomb walls show servants distributing organic floral collars as party favors among the guests. And, although their gay colors gave them a festive air, they were also worn at "graveside" funerary feasts.

For me these colorful faience collars are the quintessence of ancient Egyptian jewelry. My versions in dyed European-made wood beads are a straightforward attempt to reproduce the "look" of the originals.

1) Multi-colored faience floral collar in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC (image copied from: Jewels of the Pharaohs, Cyril Aldred, 1978, figure 91).
2) Wood full collar (Ivory & Green) now in private collection.
3) Wood full collar (Yellow & Red) now in private collection.
4) Wood full collar (Turquoise & Black) now in private collection.
5) Banquet musician wearing multi-colored floral collar from a wall painting in the tomb of Djserkarasonb TT38 (image copied from: Ancient Egyptian Paintings, Nina M. Davies, 1936, plate XXXVII).
6) Floral collars distributed to banquet guests (glyphs read: giving a garland) from a wall painting in the tomb of Rekhmire TT100 (image copied from: The Tomb of Rekh-Mi-Re at Thebes, Norman de Garis Davies, 1943, plate LXIV).