This 4,500-year-old Egyptian Beadnet Dress Was Painstakingly Reᴀssembled from 7,000 Beads Found in a Tomb

The only complete ancient Egyptian beadnet dress found to date reveals a lot about the style and craftsmanship of the Old Kingdom period.

beadnet dress ancient egypt 5

In 1927, a team of archaeologists led by George A. Reisner were excavating at Giza, where they explored the mastaba tomb G7440. Inside the tomb, they found the skeletal remains of an unidentified female, who was wrapped in linen bandages to simulate a living person. Covering her was the front half of a narrow V-necked sheath made of thousands of faience beads. Faience is a glazed ceramic material that was used to imitate precious stones like lapis lazuli and turquoise.

The beads were divided among thirty small, round boxes of varied sizes, and they had different colors, shapes and sizes. Reisner documented everything inside the tomb with pH๏τographs, sketches and diaries, but he did not attempt to reconstruct the dress. The boxes with the beads were sent to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where they remained untouched for 60 years.

beadnet dress ancient egypt 3

In 1987, Millicent Jick, a research ᴀssociate for a prospective MFA exhibit on the burial practices and funerary beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, was ᴀssigned the task of solving the mystery of the tiny round boxes and their bead contents. Jick studied Reisner’s records and counted and sorted the beads in the boxes. She realized that she was dealing with an object of major proportion, but she did not know what form it would ᴀssume.

Jick consulted with other experts and compared the beads with other examples of ancient Egyptian beadnet garments, such as shrouds and aprons. She concluded that the beads belonged to a dress that simulated a garment actually worn in life, not a mummy covering. She then proceeded to reᴀssemble the loose beads into a beadnet dress, following Reisner’s sketches and pH๏τographs as guides.

beadnet dress ancient egypt 1

The final reconstruction revealed a stunning piece of ancient fashion: a sleeveless sheath dress with a high waistband, straight shoulder straps and a fringed hem of mitra shells. The dress was made of horizontal rows of tubular blue-green beads that alternated with vertical strings of disc-shaped blue beads. The neckline is decorated with a band of blue and green beads forming geometric patterns. The dress is about 114 cm long and 74 cm wide, and it would have been worn over a linen tunic or wrap.

Stay part of the Mission! Get our latest articles to your inbox!

The beadnet dress is an important contribution to the field of Egyptian textile research and restoration, as it shows the skill and creativity of ancient Egyptian artisans and the elegance and sophistication of ancient Egyptian women. The dress is now on display at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where you can admire its beauty and craftsmanship.

Related Posts

Library of Celsus in Ephesus, Türkiye: A Timeless Testament to Ancient Knowledge

Introduction to the Library of Celsus The Library of Celsus in ancient Ephesus, Türkiye, is an enduring symbol of Roman architectural and intellectual achievement. Built between 110 and 114…

Lohagad Fort: A Majestic 2,000-Year-Old Hilltop Fortress in Maharashtra

Lohagad Fort, perched high on the hills of Maharashtra, India, is a monumental structure that has stood the test of time for over 2,000 years. It has…

The Genius Behind the Giza Pyramids: Why the Plateau Was Perfect for Construction

The Giza Plateau was carefully chosen for the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza because of its solid limestone bedrock, which provided a stable foundation to…

The Appian Way: Rome’s Most Iconic Road

The Appian Way, or Via Appia, is one of the most famous roads in the ancient world, embodying the engineering excellence and strategic prowess of the Roman Empire….

The Mystery of the Emerald Ring: A Glimpse Into Ancient Secrets

In the annals of archaeology, discoveries often blur the line between history and legend. Among them, few finds stir as much fascination as the unearthing of a…

The Roman Theatre of Aspendos: A Masterpiece of Ancient Engineering and Cultural Legacy

The Roman Theatre of Aspendos in Antalya, Turkey, is a stunning 2nd-century AD architectural achievement that exemplifies the precision and artistry of Roman engineering. Built during the reign of Emperor Marcus…