A very finely carved Egyptian amulet in the form of a frog. The frog has been rendered naturalistically, with the ridged back, crouching legs, large head and bulging eyes intricately carved. The reverse is unworked and unadorned. The surface is smooth and polished. The agate features brownish-yellow and white hues and is slightly transluscent. The amulet is perforated through the body for suspension. In Mesopotamia, jewellery was both worn and offered in temples as votive gifts to the gods. Its purpose was often more functional than ornamental: pendants worn on the body served as talismans to ward off evil and to increase the wearer's power. Mesopotamian amulets depict a large range of animals native to the Near East. Measurements: (circa) L 1.7cm x W 1.1cm x H 0.9cm Provenance: From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.