Egyptian Millefiori Glass Scarab

With a gold pin and suspension ring, polychrome glass body, plain underside; mounted in an 18ct gold bezel for hanging as a pendant, by BERJ, at Cluster Jewellers. 2.24 grams, 24 mm



Acquired from Derek Content, September 1974. Private collection of Kal Noselson, New York, acquired between 1976 and the late 1990s; thence by descent. Accompanied by an original handwritten invoice from Derek Content; a typed collector's note recording the purchase from Derek Content in September 1974; and the collector's original inked images.

An irregular, elongated limestone fragment intricately carved in low, raised relief, depicting the head and neck of a male figure facing right, wearing a tightly curled wig and a short beard, his arm extended upwards, likely to support the large basket resting on his head. 180 grams total including stand, fragment: 14.5 cm wide



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

The downturned eyebrow above an almond-shaped eye with a sharply defined eyelid and a long, thin cosmetic line, the small, fairly rounded nose with a lightly drilled nostril above rather thick lips, and the chin below obscured by the short beard are characteristic of the archaising style of the early 26th Dynasty. Artisans of that period adapted and refined earlier Old Kingdom artistic traditions, most apparent in the tomb scenes of high officials at Thebes, particularly those of Montuemhat (see the discussion: der Manuelian, P., 'Two Fragments of Relief and a New Model for the Tomb of Montuemhet at Thebes', Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 71 (1985), pp. 98–121).

Mixed group of polychrome inlay strips in various sizes. 29 grams total, 8-39 mm



Ex Japanese gallery, 1970s. From a London gallery collection, 2000s.