From Ancient Egypt with love - a bespoke necklace

The creation of a bespoke necklace featuring a charming and tiny Ancient Egyptian cat amulet

Tiny Bastet silver amulet from Ancient Egypt and it's bespoke necklace.

This April, I was asked by a friend to create a bespoke necklace for a much loved Ancient Egyptian amulet in the form of a tiny silver cat. When I say tiny, the cat really was tiny - just over half a centimetre tall. It was a challenge working with such a delicate, historically valuable and very small amulet, but also an absolute joy as she was such a stunningly beautiful and charming little cat. First she had to be cleaned as there was quite a lot of glue on her. Then I needed to consider a necklace / chain design that would embrace her personality and unique story.

The Ancient Egyptians worshiped many different deities with connection to the animal world. Horus the falcon and Anubis the jackal might be better known, but there was also a cat deity named Bastet. Bastet was originally a lioness warrior but later became a cat goddess associated with the sun, pregnancy, protection, family, music, dance and joy.

For this necklace it was important that the Bastet amulet was the focal point despite her small size. Hence I made a wirework frame in oxidized silver to match her colour, rustic beauty and to keep the necklace light. Tiny stones were incorporated in the chain. I used Tiger Eye, a stone which is linked to Bastet; Turquoise, Carnelian and gold beads representing Ancient Egypt; and dark blue Sapphires that struck a beautiful tone with the oxidised silver. The Tiger Eye stones were designed to hang on either side of Bastet to frame her and a single Carnelian stone was added to one side to underline her distinctive personality and create a subtle asymmetry.

It was an absolute joy working with this little cat and I became very fond of her through the process. It was fabulous to see and hear my friend's reaction which was, I quote " I have just unwrapped my Bastet necklace, Marianne she is so perfect. Totally wonderfully perfect. I will never take this necklace off".

Wonderful feedback and Bastet, being the bringer of joy, came from Ancient Egypt with love.

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Tea break at my jewellery workshop - a wonderful place to be.

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