Ancient Egyptian Black Hardstone Scarab

£ 550.00

An fine example of an ancient Egyptian uninscribed scarab, made from a black hardstone, most likely obsidian. The scarab displays stylised anatomical details, with an incised clypeus, eyes and head. The body is finely detailed with lined elytra and prothorax, and stylised legs are represented with incisions along the sides of the scarab. The scarab is perorated through the head and back suggesting that it was worn as an amulet.

Date: Circa 2040-1550 BC
Period: Middle Kingdom - New Kingdom
Provenance: Ex. Early 20th Century collection, AB, UK, passed by descent.
Condition: Good Condition. Slight chipping near the perforation hole at the back and a few cracks throughout the body. Earthly encrustations.

SOLD

SKU: RCB-06 Category: Tag:

The scarab beetle was an exceedingly popular symbol in the art of Ancient Egypt, thought to represent the sun god, Ra. The Ancient Egyptians believed that the scarab beetle rolling its ball of dung across the desert mirrored the journey of the sun across the sky from day to night. As the beetle laid its eggs within the dung, it became a symbol of rebirth and regeneration. These scarab beetle amulets were made in various forms, such as heart scarabs, commemorative scarabs, and scarab amulets, thus catering to different functions. Scarab amulets were believed to have magical rejuvenating properties, used by both the living and the dead.

To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings.

Weight 3.74 g
Dimensions L 1.9 x W 1.8 cm
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Reference: For similar: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Item 09.180.1070

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