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An important symbol in Ancient Egypt, the scarab has long been regarded as an incredibly powerful talisman capable of providing protection and good fortune to its wearer -- as well as being the symbol of eternal life and resurrection for all you vampires out there.
So it's no surprise that we often see this beautiful beetle imagery pop up again and again in jewelry and artifacts throughout history.
Victorians were particularly fond of scarabs (and beetles in general) thanks in part to Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in the latter part of the 18th century and to their newfound love -- some may say obsession -- of natural history. Pteridomania anyone?
This particular specimen is most likely a Grand Tour souvenir. Handcrafted in Italy in the latter half of the 19th century, this exquisite brooch is composed of thousands of tiny glass tesserae fragments that have been artfully fashioned together to create a stunning, iridescent scarab beetle.
It is set in a combination of rolled gold and brass and unfortunately has taken on a bit of damage in its long life. Fortunately, it is on the side and not on the beetle itself, so it does not overly detract from the beauty of this piece.
Additional Details
Date: 1860s-1870s
Materials: Glass, brass, rolled gold
Measurements: 1 1/2" x 1 3/8"
Markings: None
Condition: Good
A few pieces of the white tesserae are missing on the right side of the piece. Brass does have some pitting, especially on the back. The beetle is actually mounted upside down in the setting (to wear the pin correctly, the scarab would be facing downward), which leads us to believe that it may have originally been mounted in a gold setting, which is more common, but was transferred to this setting at some point. This could also be the culprit of the damage on the side. If only this piece could talk!! Still an incredible piece of jewelry and history.
Cleaning and Care
Wipe with a damp cloth if needed. Gently polish the gold with a jewelry polishing cloth if necessary.
