Egypt, Late Dynastic to Ptolemaic Period, ca. 664 to 30 BCE. A dazzling ring of wearable form that is comprised of 72.1% gold and set with a finely rendered faience scarab. The topside of the scarab presents characteristic insectile features such as a folded and notched wing carapace, slender legs tucked beneath the body, and a pronounced clypeus in front of the trapezoidal head, all covered in layers of turquoise-hued glaze. The underside of the scarab features an enclosed central column filled with ring-shaped patterns, a pair of wadjet (also wedjat or Eyes of Horus), and 2 pairs of heart-and-windpipe hieroglyphs known as "nefer" or "beautiful/good/pleasant/complete." Size (ring): 0.67" W x 1.02" H (1.7 cm x 2.6 cm); (scarab): 0.67" L x 0.47" W (1.7 cm x 1.2 cm); gold quality: 72.1% (equivalent to 15K+); total weight: 4 grams; US ring size: 5.25

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private Midwest USA collection, acquired from a Leicester, UK collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#169706

Wearable as shown and constructed in modern times. Faience scarab is ancient; gold ring is modern. Very light abrasions to scarab and minor fading to glaze pigment in scattered areas, otherwise intact and very good. Great remains of glaze pigment throughout, and hieroglyphs visible along underside. Ring shank is slightly bent and may not fit on a finger evenly.