So what exactly is a cartouche?

Cartouche has two definitions:
1. within the use of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, a cartouche was a symbol containing the text of a royal name; represented by hieroglyphs encased in an oval with a horizontal line at one end.

2. a cartouche is the royal nameplate or seal that was used by all ancient Egyptian pharaohs as a powerful amulet of protection for all eternity.

The earliest examples of cartouches date back to the Second Dynasty of Egypt, but their common usage started under Pharaoh Sneferu during the Fourth Dynasty. The ancient Egyptian word for cartouche was "shenu," and at the time it was essentially an expanded shen ring symbol.

What kind of Cartouches do you sell?

Discoveries Cartouche sells handmade cartouche pendants, which are commonly worn as necklace. You can pick any name (up to 9 letters) for a Personalized Cartouche, or chose a zodiac symbol for an Astrological Cartouche. We also have Ready to Ship Cartouche pendants using common words such as "Peace", "Mother", or "Love", all of which are translated into ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

We are proud to say that all of our products are handcrafted in the ancient bazaar of Khan el Khalili, in the heart of old Cairo - as they have been for more than 40 years. Once our pieces are meticulously crafted, they are sent to our warehouse in Longmont, Colorado - and then shipped around the world.