The amulets of ancient Egypt are an extraordinary testimony to the unique originality and wealth of Pharaonic civilization. This intriguing book unlocks their symbolic secrets. Small as they are, they speak to us on many topics: the everyday cares of the Nile Valley peasant in an environment he has yet to master, the complexity of the pantheon and the sacred bestiary and the subtle physiognomies of royalty.
Using the approach pioneered by Jacques-Édouard Berger, ever sensitive to what the object has to say, we discover the outcome of an ardent quest for the "neter" - universal, divine harmony - through objects that communicate the "nefer" - the expression of all beauty and plenitude.
Most of the amulets shown are on display in the Musée de Design et d'Arts Appliqués Contemporains (MUDAC) at Lausanne, where the Jacques-Édouard Berger collection is on long-term loan.