Carnelian Bead Necklace on Gold Wire

The object consists of a single polished, translucent, orange-red carnelian bead of an elongated barrel shape, centered on a delicate hoop made of twisted gold wire. The wire forms an uneven circle, overlapping slightly at the top where the ends are coiled around one another to secure the loop. The stone displays natural internal variations in hue, ranging from light amber to deeper reddish-brown tones.

This object is characteristic of New Kingdom Egyptian jewelry, often associated with protective amulets or votive offerings placed within funerary contexts. Carnelian was frequently used in Egyptian craft for its solar symbolism and its perceived protective qualities against malevolent forces.