ANCIENT EGYPTIAN FAIENCE WINGED PECTORAL SCARAB

Late Period, Circa 747 - 32 BC A large funerary scarab with detachable wings, of light green glazed Egyptian faience. The body is oval in shape with a gently rounded upper side detailed with moulded morphological features in a conventionalised representation of a scarabaeid beetle. The underside is flat and there are small holes pierced at six points around the edge. The two wings are each of quarter circle shape and flat (oriented with the square corner facing forward). They are decorated with incised tracery and attached to the body of the beetle [by thread] through pierced holes at the corners. The complete piece was intended for attachment to mummy wrappings, being placed at the breast in lieu of the heart which was removed on mummification. Although amuletic scarabs were found in tombs as part the dead’s personal effects, generally they had no association with ancient Egyptian funerary practices. There are, however, three forms of scarabs specifically associated as funerary related. These were heart scarab, pectoral scarabs and naturalistic scarabs. From the Twenthy-fifth Dynasty onwards, (circa 664 B.C. onwards) large, normally uninscribed pectoral scarabs were sewn into the chests of the mummies. The scarabs were sewn as with a delicate pair of outstretched wings. These were typically 5 cm – 8 cm long. The scarab was thought to represent the sun god Ra. As the sun rolls across the sky between day to night, the Egyptians saw this as the scarab beetle rolling its ball of dung across the desert. The beetle would lay its egg within the dung which became a symbol of rebirth and regeneration. The scarab was the most important amulet in Ancient Egypt. Scarabs were known as far back as the Old Kingdom. They developed from the First Intermediate Period with the insides starting to be decorated. Scarabs came in many forms and had different functions such as heart scarabs, winged scarabs, scarabs with names of a king or queen, marriage scarabs (most famously Amenhotep III’s), lion hunt scarabs, commemorative scarabs, scarabs with mottos and best wishes, and scarabs with decoration of animals and figures. Scarabs were a cheap and common form of adornment to jewellery which most people could afford made of steatite (hardstone and semi-precious stones were more uncommon and expensive). Most scarabs were made for the living and were used as seals. It is from the 12th Dynasty that scarabs became more common with many examples being made. For similar see Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, accession number: 11106-1Size: L:Set of 3: 42 - 57mm / W:33 - 35mm ; 30gProvenance: From the collection of a London gentleman; formerly acquired in early 2000s; previously in 1970s UK collection.