Egyptian Turquoise Glazed Steatite Scarab with Geometric Pattern

$568.67

A turquoise-glazed steatite Egyptian scarab with incised features such as the clypeus, prothorax and elytra marked by single lines. Decorated to the reverse, it has been incised with stylised geometric swirls and loop patterns. The amulet is pierced longitudinally for suspension.

Date: Circa 1550-1070 BC
Period: New Kingdom
Provenance: Ex private London based collection, AH, formerly in English family collections acquired from the 1920s - 1990s.
Condition: Very fine with vivid hieroglyphs and blue glaze still visible.

SOLD

SKU: AH-900 Category: Tags: ,

Scarabs of this type, with generalised hieroglyphs and geometric patterns, were popular during the Middle Kingdom. They gain popularity especially during late Dynasty 12 to Dynasty 13, circa 1850–1640 BC. However influence was taken from such designs during the New Kingdom, when geometric patterns also became popular. Scarabs such as these would have been worn for their apotropaic value.

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

Weight 5.8 g
Dimensions L 2.3 cm
Culture

Glaze

Region

Stone

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