Not all scarabs bearing a royal name are contemporaneous to the ruling pharaoh. Some kings were held in particularly high regard, and thus their name appears on scarabs hundreds of years after their reign. Thutmosis III of Dynasty XVIII was particularly honoured in this way, with his praenomen, Men-kheper-re, used on scarabs for a period of circa 1000 years as a metaphor for good luck and plenty.
White Steatite Scarab with Royal Cartouche
£ 180.00
A finely modelled white steatite Egyptian scarab featuring an inscribed base with clear hieroglyphic motifs including a royal cartouche bearing the hieroglyphic signs for ‘Men kheper re‘, the throne name of the pharaoh Thutmosis III. The scarab is pierced to both sides for suspension.
Period: 1550 – 1077 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: Very fine.
SOLD
