Beaded Girdle
OLD KINGDOM
2700 - 2200 BCE
This beaded girdle is a recreation of that discovered in the tomb of Prince Ptah-Shepses. Girdles such as these appear frequently in the sculptural tradition of pharaonic Egypt, but the surviving artefact gives us a glimpse at the colour that adorned Old Kingdom clothing. This recreation comprises a band of woven glass spacer beads, bordered by gold tubular beads fixed in place with gold wire and secured to the belt terminals. The woven band is then affixed to a sheet metal backing, originally in gold, but here in brass and gold plating. The girdle is secured with a twisted flax cord.
Artwork Details
Medium: Glass beads, gold plated tubular beads, gold plated terminals
Period: Ancient Egypt, Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty
Date: ca. 2323-2150 BCE
Geography: Saqqara, Lower Egypt
Reference: 87078, Belt of Prince Ptah-Shepses, The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
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