The Ancient Egyptians used glass as an artificial semi-precious stone. Because of the high temperatures necessary to work with glass, and the skilled craftsmen who knew how to form and colour it, glass was a costly material. This attractive necklace appears at first glance to be made of rock crystal, or perhaps very pale amethyst.

Like so many ancient Egyptian necklaces in museums, it was not excavated, but was a gift from friends of the institution. We cannot know, therefore, if this assemblage was original, but the excellent match in size and colour of the beads suggests that this is close to the appearance sought by the ancient Egyptians.