White Steatite Bastet Scarab

Name: White Steatite Bastet Scarab - St James Ancient Art
Brand: Egyptian
SKU: ES-69
Price: 225.00 GBP
Availability: OutOfStock

£ 225.00

An Ancient Egyptian white steatite scarab displaying the image of Bastet, goddess of the home, women, childbirth and fertility, under the hieroglyphs for the placenta and a wickerwork basket. The scarab is pierced longitudinally for suspension, and the hieroglyphs are still readable.

Date: Circa 1200-500 BC
Provenance: Ex Mustaki Collection. The scarab comes from the Mustaki Collection. Mustaki was an avid collector in the early 20th century and his collection came to the UK under Egyptian licence in 1947. Many of his pieces are in major museums worldwide, including the British Museum, the Getty Museum and the Egyptian State Museum. This collection and this item has been catalogued by Carol Andrews (formerly Egyptian Department in the British Museum).
Condition: Fine, with some small chips. Remains easily readable.

SOLD

Product Code: ES-69
Category: Egyptian Tags: Animals, Hieroglyphs, Insects, Intaglio, Scarab

Description
Additional information

As goddess of several major areas of daily life, Bastet was one of the most important gods in the Egyptian pantheon, appearing especially frequently on everyday items due to her protective role over the home and the risky process of childbirth. The hieroglyphs, which have been paired with the image of Bastet here, allude to this influence over childbirth and household tasks and was originally worn by a woman for its protective benefits.

To discover more about Egyptian amulets, please visit our relevant blog post: Amulets in Ancient Egypt.