Bead in the Form of a Mandrake Fruit
New Kingdom
This faience bead represents a mandrake fruit, its bright yellow flesh capped by dark blue sepals. In ancient Egypt, this fruit was considered erotic, although parts of the plant seem to have been used for medicinal purposes.
Collars composed of multiple rows of floral elements were popular during late Dynasty 18 and this decorative element probably came from such a necklace.
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