Naturalistic Scarab
(Ancient Egypt and Nubia )
This naturalistic faience scarab has a medium high back with a detailed design of shallowly incised fine lines for the plates and wing cases. The lines are narrowly and evenly spaced. The proportions of the top are almost balanced. The bottom of the scarab has modeled body structures with an eye protruding from the center of the belly. The workmanship of the piece is good and it is carefully made.
This scarab functioned as a funerary amulet with regenerative connotations. It was originally attached to mummy bandages as part of the amulet set of the mummy.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
"Sheikh of the Pyramids" [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1930, [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Egypt (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 1/2 x W: 1 1/8 x L: 1 1/4 in. (1.3 x 2.9 x 3.2 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1930
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
42.374