Egyptian Turquoise Feldspar Scarab

$221.02

An Egyptian feldspar scarab with incised detailing to form a ridged carapace and naturalistic features. The underside has been left blank. This amulet is not pierced.

Date: Circa 2040 - 1782 BC
Period: Middle Kingdom
Provenance: Ex-AH collection of scarabs, London 1980-2000's
Condition: Very Fine Condition. Minor hairline cracks to the stone but stable.

SOLD

SKU: SA-32 Category: Tag:

The scarab beetle was an exceedingly popular symbol in the art of Ancient Egypt, thought to represent the sun god, Ra. Ancient Egyptians believed that the scarab beetle rolling its ball of dung across the dessert 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.

Feldspar was a valued mineral in Ancient Egypt, originating from the east with quarry sites found in the Eastern Desert, Sinai and around the Red Sea.The turquoise stone symbolised fertility and vegetation. Its light blue-green colour was an Egyptian favourite used to make ornaments and jewellery alike.

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

Weight 1 g
Dimensions L 1.2 x W 0.8 cm
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Reference: For Similar: The Metropolitan Museum, New York, item 22.1.484