Egyptian faience and rose gold at Mochlos, Crete

Abstract

The Mycenaean necklace found in a tomb in the Limenaria cemetery at Mochlos, Crete, consists of a row of faience beads and a central gold bead, and it is dated to the LM IIIA period (about 1400–1300 BC). Studies on faience have shown that different production technologies were used in this period: efflorescence, cementation and direct application methods. The efflorescence method was used in Egypt. The manufacture of the faience from Mochlos indicates an Egyptian origin, but the shape and the style are Aegean. The gold bead shows a deliberately applied rose patination on one side and a normal golden colour on the other. The analyses showed that the composition of the pink film is very similar to that on Tutankhamun’s sequins. The technique of colouring gold is known from objects found in royal tombs in Egypt. This piece of jewelry shows, like the faience, a strong Egyptian technological influence.

Keywords:

• Crete
• Mochlos
• Egypt
• Mycenae
• Aegean
• Faience
• Efflorescence
• Cementation
• Rose
• Pink
• Red
• Purple
• Gold
• Anubis
• XRF
• Microscopy

All conservation specialists of the INSTAP Study Center at Pacheia Ammos have been extremely helpful, in particular S. Chlouveraki, Head of the W.D.E. Coulson Conservation Laboratory, and K. Hall, Senior Conservator at the Study Center. Whenever necessary, they mechanically removed the layer of dirt from the objects and made analyses possible. We gratefully acknowledge funding provided by the INSTAP, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Notes

This paper is part of a special issue on Arts and Surfaces