“Nefer” Broad Collar

𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How beautiful this is! Look at this beautiful 𓄤 broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝! 

The broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was the necklace of choice by both the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, and the nobility/wealthy! This broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is unique because traditionally they were made with faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 beads while this particular broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is made of gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and glass 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼! Fun fact: glass and faience are the same word in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼!

If you look closely at this broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝, you will see a familiar hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbol: 𓄤! The “heart and windpipe 𓄤” symbol is a triliteral phonogram that represents the sound “nfr” which in modern times we pronounce like “nefer.” The word “nfr 𓄤” translates to “beautiful” or “good” and is a very popular symbol not only in hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 phrases such as titles, but also in names 𓂋𓈖𓏦! 

So basically, this broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is just saying “beautiful 𓄤” over and over and over again! Maybe the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was supposed to bring good 𓄤 wishes to the wearer, or just make them  even more beautiful 𓄤! Isn’t that what nice jewelry is all about, even in modern times?!

The MET has this piece titled “Broad Collar of Nefer Amulets” and it belonged to one of the foreign wives of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣, as that is the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 the piece was found in. This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty (c. 1504–1450 B.C.E.).