The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 13, 2026

A pendant shaped like a teardrop features a central, polished carnelian stone in vibrant reddish-orange. This translucent core is encased within a thick, dark gray silver frame with a weathered, uneven texture. The piece narrows from a rounded base toward a point at the apex. The rugged silver border outlines the smooth stone, creating a sharp contrast between the glossy, warm interior and the dark, irregular metallic shell.

Oyster-Shell Pendant

1980–1801 BCE

Egypt, Middle Kingdom , Dynasty 12

(2040–1648 BCE)
carnelian and silver
Overall: 1.5 cm (9/16 in.)
Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust 1914.792.e
Location: Not on view
  • Purchased in Egypt by Lucy Olcott Perkins through Henry W. Kent
  • Berman, Lawrence M., and Kenneth J. Bohač. Catalogue of Egyptian Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1999 Reproduced: p. 176; Mentioned: p. 176
  • {{cite web|title=Oyster-Shell Pendant|url=false|author=|year=1980–1801 BCE|access-date=13 May 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1914.792.e