Art Nouveau Egyptian Revival Scarab Beetle Necklace

As the Industrial Revolution roared on, poisoning the air with thick factory smoke and polluting the waterways with hazardous waste, many Victorians found themselves yearning to return to nature.

To help starve off the ache of modernism many flocked to the country or seaside to rekindle their romance with nature and to collect specimens that would allow them to reconstruct the wilderness in their homes.

From collecting and displaying shells to cultivating exotic ferns under glass domes, Victorians began incorporating a little piece of Mother Nature into many aspects of their lives, including fashion.

One particularly popular trend of the time was insect jewelry. From weevils and moths to fireflies and jewel beetles, ladies bedazzled their coiffures and their attire with these treasured bugs. But perhaps no insect was more coveted than the scarab beetle.

A symbol of rebirth, scarabs were relished by Victorians for their unique shape and iridescent green coloring with tinges of coppery gold edges. Also adding to the overall appeal and desire was the scarab's association with Ancient Egypt; a subject of intense fascination and obsession for many Victorians.

Ironically, the scarab beetles utilized in jewelry pieces of the time were not in fact from Egypt, they most likely hailed from South America. 

Still, the demand for these beetles (and others) was so great that it almost pushed them to the brink of extinction. Unfortunately, due to the fragile nature of these beautiful creatures, not many jewelry examples have survived the years, which makes this piece even more special. 

This incredible Egyptian revival necklace is a wonderful homage to both the entomological craze of the late 19th century and also to Victorian Egyptomania.

It features 22 scarab beetle carapaces flanking either side of a winged scarab pendant, which showcases another taxidermy beetle as well as a lotus and two (very stylized) snake motifs. 

A true conversation piece!