Art Nouveau Scarab Amulet Drop Earrings

A seriously charming pair of Art Nouveau Egyptian revival earrings, whose oval drops feature a highly detailed and beautifully textured carving of a scarab beetle with open wings. These lovely scarabs hang below a pair of hand-fabricated earwires that are decorated with a motif that repeats the rising sun shape of the scarabs' mouthparts. These are some of the most wonderful scarab depictions we've ever seen! We love the depth of the relief, here, the many textures at work, and the dimension added by the original patina. The scarab is a long-honored symbol of transformation, and in ancient Egypt, winged scarabs were used as amulets for a safe journey into the afterworld of the gods. 

Materials

14k gold

Age

c. 1900 - 1910

Dimensions

Total drop is approx 1 6/10", including earwires; scarabs measure approx 19 x 13.2 mm (about 3/4").

Notes

These drops were originally a pair of Victorian era cufflinks. They have been thoughtfully redesigned and (we think) elevated.