Nefertiti Egyptian Necklace Tote Bag

<p>A cotton canvas bag with a design inspired by the collar necklaces of ancient Egypt, which were favourites of the gods and pharaohs. <br /> <br /> Probably the most characteristic form of Egyptian jewellery is the collar necklace, which was known as "wesekh" or "weskhet". It was composed of cylinders or tubes strung in horizontal layers around a central choker. The collar often had an outer row of leaf-shaped pendants, but sometimes the leaf beads were strung between two rows of horizontal beads. <br /> <br /> Inspired by these, the tote bag is decorated with collar necklace patterns, hieroglyphs and a silhouette of Queen Nefertiti. Made from thick canvas cotton, it is ideal for carrying books.</p>

Designed exclusively for the British Museum, a cotton canvas bag with a design inspired by the collar necklaces of ancient Egypt.

About the design:

The image of Queen Nefertiti (c.1370-1330 BC) has been inspired by the world famous bust which can be found in the Egyptian Museum of Berlin. The bust, crafted by Thutmose in the 14^th century BC was discovered in 1912, and shows the queen wearing a striking wesekh necklace, which has retained an impressive amount of its original pigments.

The wesekh or weskhet collar necklace pictured here was composed of cylinders or tubes strung in horizontal layers around a central choker. Wesekhs were favourites of the gods and the pharaohs, and from around the 18^th Dynasty, were gifted to officials, dignitaries and soldiers as a mark of honour. Often made of gold, wesekh necklaces also often featured other precious metals such as copper and silver, and gemstones such as turquoise, lapis lazuli and carnelian, as well as faience glaze. 

Made from thick canvas cotton, this tote bag is ideal for carrying books.