Uncanny Artist Ephemera and Objects for Artists and Collectors
  • Carved Turquoise Scarab Beads

    $20.00
    There is only 1 item left in stock.
    This item consists of eight Carved Turquoise Scarab Beads.  To the ancient Egyptians, the scarab (or dung beetle) was associated with the divine manifestation of the early morning sun, Khepri, whose name was written with the scarab hieroglyph and who was believed to roll the disk of the morning sun over the eastern horizon at daybreak.  The scarab hieroglyph referred to ideas of existence, development, growth, and effectiveness and, therefore, was a popular form for amulets.  Made of genuine turquoise (which has probably been stabilized and possibly color enhanced), the beads have a variety of deep blue-green coloration, black vein patterns, and natural imperfections.   Being hand carved, they also vary in size, ranging from 13mm to 16mm (0.5" to 0.625") in length, from 9mm to 13mm (0.375" to 0.5"), and from 8mm to 9mm (0.3125" to 0.375") in height.  Each has a simple, abstract pattern which consists of two lines across the front of the back and three vertical lines with four smaller diagonal lines across the front.  The base has two wavy lines above three vertical lines, which may be a protective inscription.  There is a hole which runs the length of the bead, measuring from 1mm to 2mm (0.025" to 0.625") in diameter.  Maker, country of origin, and age are unknown, although these look like beads produced in the 1970s.  Seven of these Carved Turquoise Scarab Beads are in Very Good Condition.  One bead (shown in the right hand corner on the top row) has a thin crack running diagonally across the top of the bead, which does not affect its integrity.