If you search for special art pieces on the web chances are high you will come across Egyptian jewelries. They are unique, mysterious and just the mention of the phrase conjures the exotic land of the Pharaohs. All those splendor and grandeur of days long ago. You ponder over the immense power that could build the pyramids and leave it standing even until now. Then you began to think that such magnificent beings maybe similarly clothed and bejeweled. And indeed you are correct. Thousands of internet sites devote themselves to all manners of jewelries worn by the Egyptian Pharaohs, and one of the jewelries that really made an impact in history and whose craft secrets are preserved until now are the cartouche.
The Egyptian cartouche once exclusively adorned the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. These jewels are crafted with the pharaoh's name by Nile artists, carving their names in beautiful hieroglyphs in gold or silver. The word cartouche is French for 'gun cartridge'. During Napoleon's occupation of Egypt, his soldiers called the oval-shaped ornaments 'cartouche' because it reminded them of the shape of their bullets. During those times, no one could decipher hieroglyphic writings carved into the cartouche jewelries, so the term stuck and remained associated with the shape of these rare pieces of Egyptian jewelry.
Nowadays, the cartouche is indeed a touching gift when given to loved ones. It is a piece of jewelry that is commonly crafted to represent the recipient's name in hieroglyphic symbols. Today, the glory of Pharaohs and Egyptian Queens can be captured by ordinary persons as well by the simple adornment of the cartouche.
Photo: http://www.nilestone.com/
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