Ring with a cartouche of Thutmose III. Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, ca. 1479–1425 B.C.

Ring with a cartouche of Thutmose III. Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, reign of Thutmose III, ca. 1479–1425 B.C.
Molded and glazed faience.
Provenance: private collection, Paris, France.
In good overall condition.
Measurements: 3.1 cm in length.

Faience rings bearing royal names served ornamental, identity-affirming, and protective functions in ancient Egypt. This example features the cartouche of Thutmose III—one of the principal pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty—on its setting. His coronation name, Menkheperra, continued to appear on amulets and seals long after his reign, as a symbol of prestige and protective power.

The piece features a wide band set within an oval bezel, on which the hieroglyphic signs are modeled in relief. The bluish-green hue of the faience was symbolically associated with regeneration, fertility, and life—qualities that reinforced the object’s apotropaic significance.

Thutmose III reigned from approximately 1479 to 1425 B.C. and transformed Egypt into one of the leading powers of the eastern Mediterranean and the Near East. The repeated appearance of his name on jewelry, scarabs, and faience objects attests to the enduring legacy of his figure and the symbolic authority attained by his royal titles. Related examples are held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, and the Musée du Louvre.