Ancient Egypt, Late Period Faience HUGE Scarab from mummy wrappings. Spanish Export License. - 53 mm
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Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 600 - € 750
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Egyptian Late Period faience scarab from mummy wrappings, 53 mm in height (19 x 34 x 53 mm), Good condition, provenance includes an English private collection (2019) with prior French collection provenance, and it comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and an export licence.
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Description from the seller
ITEM: Scarab from mummy wrappings
MATERIAL: Faience
CULTURE: Egyptian
PERIOD: Late period, 664 - 332 B.C
DIMENSIONS: 19 mm x 34 mm x 53 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex English private collection, 2019, who bought it at auction arround 1988.
Before that it came from a French collection which was formed in the 1950´s
PARALLEL: The Brooklyn Museum, Accession number 49.28a-c. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Object number 89.2.388
The scarab beetle was a powerful and multifaceted religious symbol in ancient Egypt, fundamentally representing renewal, rebirth, and the rising sun. This association stemmed from the Egyptians observing the common dung beetle (Scarabaeus sacer) rolling balls of dung across the ground, an action they likened to the sun god Khepri rolling the solar disc across the sky each morning to ensure its daily rebirth. As such, scarabs were among the most crucial amulets placed with the deceased. Crafted from materials like glazed steatite (faience), green jasper, basalt, or carnelian, they were worn by the living for protection and good fortune, but their most significant role was in the funerary context, where they were often sewn or wrapped directly into the mummy wrappings.
Within the mummy wrappings, the most important form was the Heart Scarab . This larger amulet was typically placed directly over the heart of the deceased or sometimes rested on the throat or chest. Its function was purely religious and magical, designed to safeguard the dead during the most critical moment of their journey into the afterlife: the Weighing of the Heart ceremony in the Hall of Two Truths. In this judgment, the deceased’s heart—the seat of their intellect, memory, and conscience—would be weighed against the feather of Ma'at, the goddess of truth and cosmic order. If the heart was heavy with misdeeds, it would be devoured by the demon Ammit, resulting in the annihilation of the soul.
To prevent this devastating outcome, Heart Scarabs were often inscribed on their flat base with a version of Chapter 30B of the Book of the Dead. This magical spell was a plea, imploring the heart not to testify against its owner's past actions when questioned by the gods. The inscription typically begins with a phrase like, "O my heart which I had from my mother, O my heart which I had from my mother, O my heart of my different forms, do not stand up as a witness against me..." By combining this compelling injunction with the form of the beetle, which guaranteed the cyclical nature of existence, the scarab ensured the heart's silence and the deceased's safe passage, thereby securing their transition into an akh (a blessed spirit) in the afterlife.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license
If you bid outside the european union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateITEM: Scarab from mummy wrappings
MATERIAL: Faience
CULTURE: Egyptian
PERIOD: Late period, 664 - 332 B.C
DIMENSIONS: 19 mm x 34 mm x 53 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex English private collection, 2019, who bought it at auction arround 1988.
Before that it came from a French collection which was formed in the 1950´s
PARALLEL: The Brooklyn Museum, Accession number 49.28a-c. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Object number 89.2.388
The scarab beetle was a powerful and multifaceted religious symbol in ancient Egypt, fundamentally representing renewal, rebirth, and the rising sun. This association stemmed from the Egyptians observing the common dung beetle (Scarabaeus sacer) rolling balls of dung across the ground, an action they likened to the sun god Khepri rolling the solar disc across the sky each morning to ensure its daily rebirth. As such, scarabs were among the most crucial amulets placed with the deceased. Crafted from materials like glazed steatite (faience), green jasper, basalt, or carnelian, they were worn by the living for protection and good fortune, but their most significant role was in the funerary context, where they were often sewn or wrapped directly into the mummy wrappings.
Within the mummy wrappings, the most important form was the Heart Scarab . This larger amulet was typically placed directly over the heart of the deceased or sometimes rested on the throat or chest. Its function was purely religious and magical, designed to safeguard the dead during the most critical moment of their journey into the afterlife: the Weighing of the Heart ceremony in the Hall of Two Truths. In this judgment, the deceased’s heart—the seat of their intellect, memory, and conscience—would be weighed against the feather of Ma'at, the goddess of truth and cosmic order. If the heart was heavy with misdeeds, it would be devoured by the demon Ammit, resulting in the annihilation of the soul.
To prevent this devastating outcome, Heart Scarabs were often inscribed on their flat base with a version of Chapter 30B of the Book of the Dead. This magical spell was a plea, imploring the heart not to testify against its owner's past actions when questioned by the gods. The inscription typically begins with a phrase like, "O my heart which I had from my mother, O my heart which I had from my mother, O my heart of my different forms, do not stand up as a witness against me..." By combining this compelling injunction with the form of the beetle, which guaranteed the cyclical nature of existence, the scarab ensured the heart's silence and the deceased's safe passage, thereby securing their transition into an akh (a blessed spirit) in the afterlife.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license
If you bid outside the european union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Ancient Egypt, Late Period
Century/ Timeframe
Late period, 644 - 332 B.C
Name of object
HUGE Scarab from mummy wrappings. Spanish Export License.
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2025
Material
Faience
Country acquired from
Germany
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Height
53 mm
Previous owner - year acquired
1950
Previous owner - country acquired from
France
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
