A scarab is a carved or moulded representation of the scarab beetle, a powerful symbol of rebirth and the rising sun in ancient Egypt. Scarabs were made as amulets, seals and items of jewellery, usually with a domed back showing the beetle and a flat underside that might be inscribed with hieroglyphs, names, titles or designs.
They were produced in enormous numbers over many centuries in glazed steatite, faience, stone and other materials, and they range in size from tiny seal amulets to large heart scarabs placed with the dead. Some were mounted in rings or strung as beads. Because of their popularity among nineteenth-century travellers to Egypt, they were also faked on a large scale, and many scarabs on the market are later souvenirs or imitations, so expert opinion and documented provenance are essential, as is compliance with the laws on the export and sale of antiquities. The scarab became a favourite motif of the Egyptian Revival, appearing in Victorian jewellery, Art Nouveau and Art Deco design, and in the work of jewellers inspired by the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. Revival pieces are collected in their own right.
