Egyptian Revival - Victorian English Brass Genuine Iridescent Green Scarab Beetle, Pharaoh & Serpent Brooch (VICBR033)

Egyptian Revival - Victorian English Brass Genuine Iridescent Green Scarab Beetle, Pharaoh & Serpent Brooch. This antique brooch is crafted from brass. The brooch features one genuine scarab beetle, Victorian styling, and quality craftsmanship. This wonderful brooch is expertly claw-set with an iridescent green, blue, and black beetle, surrounded by a brass frame, which showcases two serpents and a pharaoh in the centre of the snakes. These beautiful beetles were treasured during the Victorian era, as the scarabs made out faience, and carved gemstones were to the Egyptians many centuries ago. There is a pin on the back of the brooch , which locks in place in its original 'c' clasp. This Victorian Egyptian Revival brooch would make a great gift for any Egyptian history enthusiast or a wonderful addition to any unique jewelry collection. 

History: The scarab (kheper) beetle was one of the most popular amulets in ancient Egypt because the insect was a symbol of the sun god Re. This association evolved from the Egyptians' misunderstanding of the scarab's life cycle. The scarab became a symbol of birth, life, death, and resurrection.

From the 1880s to the 1930s, Egyptian Revival was all the rage following the translation of the Rosetta Stone and continued when King Tut's tomb was discovered in the 1920s. 

The image of the scarab is translated from hieroglyphs to mean "to become" or "to transform" and was associated with regeneration as well as considered protective. Green was the symbolic color of rebirth to the Egyptians, and the flat base of the scarab could be inscribed with the name of a pharaoh or god to safeguard the wearer in the afterlife. The scarab was considered a good luck charm by the Egyptians.

In ancient Egyptian times scarabs were made in a wide variety of materials, such as carnelian, lapis lazuli, basalt, limestone, malachite, schist, serpentine, turquoise, colored glass, and alabaster.

Scarabs were generally either carved from stone, or molded from Egyptian faience, a type of Ancient Egyptian sintered-quartz ceramic. Once carved, they would typically be glazed blue or green and then fired.

Perhaps the most pervasive period of Egyptian influence in art, fashion and jewelry came about in the 1920s, when the rise of Art Deco coincided with the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922, 100 years ago this autumn.

The history of brass dates back to ancient civilizations, with artifacts found in various regions, including the Middle East and Europe. It is believed that brass was first created around 5000 BCE when metallurgists accidentally mixed copper and zinc ores during the smelting process.

Measurements: Brooch 21.50 mm x 25.00 mm 

Weight: 2.80 grams 

Condition: Excellent 

Origin: England 

Date: Circa 1900