Hand-strung Egyptian-influenced necklace of lapis lazuli beads
Although I haven’t even started pleating the fabric for my linen Egyptian dress (based off the synthetic ‘practice’ one I did in 2017) I still wanted to make a more period-appropriate necklace to go with this outfit. I picked up some lapis lazuli beads from The Bead Store Fashion Jewellery Outlet in Calgary, as well as some lapis beads from Michaels, and thought I would use them along with the Faience beads I recently got back from a friend’s kiln.
Hand-strung Egyptian-influenced necklace of lapis lazuli beads
The conclusions I made from a fairly brief overview of extant styles (explored on New Egyptian necklace research) suggested that spherical beads in semi-precious stones are ok… and a mix of semi-precious stones and faience together is ok too. The materials most frequently shown include gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, and faience. Collar-style beaded necklaces were represented, but so were multi-strand necklaces that weren’t collars, with or without a central pendant.
Direct link from Pinterest
However, as I started auditioning the beads… I didn’t really LIKE the faience and lapis lazuli beads together – largely because of the difference in texture and size.
I referred to some of the extant jewellery I have pinned on my Pinterest board, and went for a three-strand collar. One of the examples is just lapis and gold, so I went with the same colour scheme for this, adding in gold-tone five-hole bead spreaders (using only three of the holes).
Between each bead I used gold-tone spacer beads as well. I used the larger beads from Michaels at the centre. These are 10mm Round Reconstituted Lapis Beads (the link is to the USA site – the Canadian site doesn’t have a great catalogue online). I ended up varying the number of beads and occasionally spacers to get the curve for the three strands.
This example, (below) shows adding extra small beads, and stacking spreaders of different lengths to account for the curve in a multi-strand necklace. (Click for the Pinterest link which shows a larger version.)
Direct link from Pinterest
Costs
Hand-strung Egyptian-influenced necklace of lapis lazuli beads
I used:
- Three and a half strands of the smaller lapis lazuli beads at $22.50/strand
- Half a strand of the 10mm lapis lazuli beads at approx. $7.00/strand
- Less than half a package of bead spreaders at $4.95/package
- Less than a package of small spacers at $2.95/package
- Less than half a package of large spacers at $2.95/package
- 1/3 of a package of gold-tone cones at $4.95/package
- Beading wire, jump rings, crimps, and a toggle clasp from my stash.
Lapis Lazuli necklace for my Egyptian costume work in progress displayed on my dressform
