18 karat gold, lapis lazuli, and black enamel 1" x 3/4" beetle, 2 1/4" diameter 22nd Dynasty, reign of Shoshenq II, Tanis, c.890 BC The original bracelet is in the permanent collection of the Cairo Museum. This simple, yet elegant bracelet was originally worn by Shoshenq II. Made of gold it depicts a papyrus reed at the ends. Black enamel outlines the papyrus design. Between the papyrus ends is a lapis lazuli scarab fixed in a gold mount. Egyptians are famous for their jewelry, and probably have been throughout history. Examples are abundant on statues and paintings or reliefs of queens, but also any number of noble and even common women. Jewelry was used for adornment, protection as in amulets, and of course, as symbols of status. In fact, the worlds oldest known surviving jewelry is said to have been found on an Egyptian Queen Zer, a bracelet ma...