Jewels of Ancient Nubia

Review

by James Blake Wiener
published on 06 November 2014

Jewels of Ancient Nubia, edited by Yvonne J. Markowitz, Rita J. Kaplan and Susan B. Kaplan Curator of Jewelry, and Denise M. Doxey, Curator of Ancient Egyptian, Nubian, and Near Eastern Art, both at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, is an exhibition catalogue of the eponymous exhibit currently on show at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston through 2017. This catalogue is the first introduction in the English language to the jewelry of this enigmatic region, which rivaled ancient Egypt by virtue of its craftsmanship, wealth, and political power.

Jewels of Ancient Nubia is divided into three core components: five expertly written essays; a “gallery section" with images from the show itself; and an appendix section with further information for reference. The essays found within Jewels of Ancient Nubia explore the breadth of ancient of Nubian civilization — from the distant prehistoric past (c. 3500 BCE) to the collapse of the Kingdom of Meroë (c. 350 CE) — with special focus given to artistic development. Among the essays, we found “The Kingdom of Kerma” to be quite rewarding. From 1700-1550 BCE — a period designated by historians and archaeologists as “Classic Kerma” — Kerma was a dynamic urban center in Lower Nubia, enriched by trade with Egypt and the Red Sea coast. Artisans of this epoch utilized a fascinating range of materials for their color, texture, luster, and symbolic significance. The sheer variety and tantalizing iconography of the objects from Kerma is visually striking.

The real heart of this stunning exhibition catalogue precedes the authoritative essays: the "gallery section." Here, the publication covers the presentation of items from the exhibition. The reader is immersed in the rich collection of exhibited items as well as the trajectory of artistic development over several millennia. Most photographs cover three-quarters of the page, while others traverse two pages, side-by-side. The photographs are of exceptional quality, and the would-be-reader is able to glimpse items of considerable beauty. While one can easily distinguish the strong influence of nearby Egypt, the dazzling use of color and the inherent beauty of Nubian jewelry cannot be questioned. Special mention must be made of the items from the Kingdom of Meroë — necklaces and pendants — for their intricate design and subtle Greco-Roman influence. Napatan era amulets should also not be missed.

The final portion of Jewels of Ancient Nubia contains useful materials for reference and research: an essay on “Materials and Techniques in Nubian Jewelry”; a curious essay on the history of the Nubian collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; a map and chronology of Nubian history; a notes and glossary section with an overview of key terms found throughout the catalogue; a suggested reading list; a list of illustrations; an acknowledgements section; and an index. The chronology and map are particularly useful to those unfamiliar with Nubia's long history.

Ancient History Encyclopedia recommends this title to jewelry aficionados, art historians, and anyone interested in the ancient world. It's also invaluable to Africanists and Egyptologists. It's rare to see an exhibition catalogue so well organized and exquisitely designed.

Jewels of Ancient Nubia was published by MFA Publications in 2014, and it is available in hardcover (240 pages) for $45.00. This title is currently only available in English.

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