Lot 4
Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th to 20th Dynasty, ca. 1550 to 1070 BCE. A finely carved Egyptian scarab amulet in green-glazed steatite, pierced longitudinally and mounted in a modern 13.6 karat gold suspension loop with spherical terminals for wear as a pendant. The beetle is carefully modeled with defined clypeus, ridged elytra, and incised legs, with surface mottling from ancient burial. The base presents a remarkably intricate tableau. At the center, the prenomen Men-kheper-Re, throne name of Pharaoh Thutmose III (ca. 1479 to 1425 BCE), is repeated three times within cartouches - an emphatic invocation of royal legitimacy and divine protection. Though Thutmose III ruled during the 18th Dynasty, his legacy endured long after his death. Revered as a model warrior-king and restorer of order, his name continued to appear on scarabs well into the Ramesside period of the 19th and 20th Dynasties. Size: 1.1" L x 0.7" W x 0.4" H (2.8 cm x 1.8 cm x 1 cm); gold quality: 54.3% (about 13.6 karat)
Surrounding the royal names are hieroglyphs for gold (nbw), evoking eternal value and solar brilliance. Above, a pair of adoring baboons flank an obelisk, a classic solar motif of divine kingship and resurrection. Below, a bennu bird (heron) stands opposite a kneeling deity, each in a posture of reverence. Solar disks punctuate the composition, reinforcing the cosmic dimension of the pharaoh's power.
Such scarabs functioned as amulets of protection and royal favor, and were commonly worn, buried, or offered in temples. The repetition of the king's name, paired with symbols of divine approval, would have imbued the piece with enduring authority - linking its wearer to the eternal legacy of one of Egypt's most celebrated rulers. An extraordinary example of royal scarab artistry, distinguished by its refined detail, symbolic richness, and impeccable condition.
Provenance: private Toronto, Ontario collection; ex-Art for Eternity, New York, New York, USA; ex-Ken & Barbara Bowers collection, Lands Beyond Gallery, Queens, New York, USA, purportedly acquired from Sotheby's, New York in the 1980s
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#195769
- Condition: Ancient scarab mounted in modern, gold suspension hoop to be wearable as a pendant; removable by jeweler without harm to piece. Excellent; no breaks, repairs, or restorations.
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