Queen Nefertiti, the stepmother to famous King Tutankhamun. Made by renowned Italian Jewellers UNOAERRE.
In great vintage condition. One cheek has a small indent which shows if she faces left.
9ct yellow gold
9.79mm x 18.4mm excluding bale
0.61g
Era - Vintage
Stamp - 375 and UNOAERRE
Condition - Very Good - one cheek has a small indent which shows if she is facing left.
Other info
Please check the photos carefully as they are part of the description. These items have been preloved so may have some wear and tear. I do my best to accurately describe items for sale, to the best of my knowledge and research.
Free shipping for orders $500 and over.
Shipping is $10 flat rate within Australia and New Zealand for orders up to $500. Free shipping for orders $500 and over. For overseas purchases please contact me and I will give you a quote and arrange payment.
No change of mind returns but please get in touch if you are unhappy with your purchase. Some pieces may be exchanged for product or credit.
The obsession with Egyptian jewellery and iconography throughout the ages.
The revival of Egyptian jewellery spans over two centuries, surging in distinct waves. Sparked by Napoleon’s 1798 campaign, the opening of the Suez Canal, and later the monumental 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb, this trend transformed ancient, sacred amulets into highly sought-after fashion.
1. The Ancient Origin: Amulets & Status
Ancient Egyptians viewed jewellery as a wearable talisman rather than mere decoration. Worn by all social classes, pieces featured materials like gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, turquoise, and faience. Iconic symbols such as the scarab (symbolizing rebirth), the ankh (life), and the Eye of Horus (protection) were designed to protect the living and ensure safe passage into the afterlife.
2. The First Wave: The Victorian Era (circa 1800s–1890s)
Following Napoleon’s military incursions into Egypt and the decryption of the Rosetta Stone, Europe experienced its first sweeping wave of Egyptomania.
3. The Golden Age: The Art Deco Period (1920s–1930s)
The 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamun’s undisturbed tomb by Howard Carter sparked a global fascination with antiquity. This era produced some of the most iconic and highly collectible Egyptian Revival jewellery in history.
Jewelers like Castellani and Giuliano adapted ancient Egyptian motifs to fit classic Victorian silhouettes, frequently utilizing high-carat yellow gold, micro-mosaics, and enamel.
The building of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the premiere of Verdi’s opera Aida in 1871 kept Egyptian fashion at the forefront of European high society.
Hollywood Glamour & Mid-Century Revival (1960s–1970s)
Egyptian motifs saw another major resurgence thanks to Hollywood. The 1963 film Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor drove a demand for bold costumery. Later, a massive touring museum exhibition of King Tut’s treasures (which began in 1972) triggered widespread production by costume jewellery designers like Trifari and Miriam Haskell. Houses like Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Lacloche Frères incorporated rigid, geometric lines characteristic of the Art Deco movement with authentic Egyptian artifacts. Designs often combined jade, carnelian, and lapis lazuli with classic, Art Deco monochrome favourites: diamonds and onyx.
Egyptian Revival pieces remain highly coveted on the antique market, and the motifs continue to influence modern designers around the world.
