Egyptian Revival gold ring featuring a green Egyptian paste scarab. Egyptian paste was a self glazing clay used to make such scarabs and other artifacts. The gold spiral wire on the band is wound around the shoulders and through the convex terminals of the scarab. The green scarab is a swivel ring, which spins around, so that the carving and details on both sides of the piece can be appreciated. The back has a stylized lotus and papyri composition. It is a really wonderful looking scarab, with nice detail work. Although I am not sure of exact scarab date; it is possibly from Egyptian times, as in early 20th Century many of these artifacts were being brought back to Europe. Many items decorated with scarab beetles were found in Egyptian tombs. The style of the ring dates to the Egyptian Era and were found in the tombs.
The Egyptian Revival style flourished in the 1920's and coincided with the discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb. The scarab was a symbol in ancient Egyptian cultures representing good luck. The scarab is also the symbol of the god Khepera, who rolled the ball of the sun across the sky to "rebirth" every morning, represented resurrection and life. This scarab gold ring, with its yellows and green has a nice combination of colors. It is a 6.5 ring size. Not marked but tests to be 12K gold. Weighs 4.75 grams. Scarab measure 14mm x 9.5mm with wear to faience surface.
Egyptian faience or Egyptian paste is a self-glazing ceramic: salts in the wet paste come to the surface as it dries and develop a glaze when it is fired in the kiln. Circa 1920.
