Material reference

Carnelian · Sigla ng Lakas

Scientific identity, documented history, and community contexts are presented with sources. TÁWID’s contemporary design interpretation is identified separately.

Material identity

Carnelian is orange to reddish chalcedony, a fine-grained silica material in the quartz family. Its colour, translucency, shape, and polish all affect its appearance as a bead. The history of a particular ornament also depends on drilling, arrangement, wear, and later restringing, which are human actions rather than intrinsic mineral properties. [1]

Documented historical context

The Met’s carnelian ball beads from Lisht in Egypt are dated to approximately 1981–1295 BCE. Excavators recovered them among thousands of beads in surface debris near the North Pyramid. The beads were subsequently assembled into necklaces, including the string now catalogued by the museum. Its present arrangement is therefore a reconstruction, while the materials retain their documented ancient find context. [2]

Philippine and community context

Museo Kordilyera’s reproduction of a bonngol from Kiangan, Ifugao, records carnelian and agate in a multi-strand ensemble used by women of the kadangyan during uya-uy. The material’s role is tied to the named wearers, ceremonial setting, and composed necklace.

The museum’s reproduction preserves a reference to this adornment practice; it is not itself an excavated ancient necklace. It offers a Philippine comparison for carnelian’s place in a socially recognized ensemble, rather than a generic meaning for every red-orange bead. [3]

TÁWID’s contemporary interpretation

Sigla ng Lakas is TÁWID’s contemporary title for purposeful action.

References

1. Australian Museum, “Quartz”
2. Metropolitan Museum of Art, “String of Carnelian Ball Beads,” Middle Kingdom–Early New Kingdom
3. UP Baguio Museo Kordilyera, “Bongol (reproduction),” Kiangan, Ifugao

How to read the material guide · Ask about a bracelet

ORDER CARNELIAN

Choose your bead style, bead size, wrist circumference, and quantity. TÁWID will confirm current availability and the final total before payment.