Egyptian Hyksos Period Swivel Ring with Scarab

Object Description

An ancient Egyptian bronze swivel ring set with a steatite scarab from the Hyksos period. The obverse of the scarab is simple in nature, with a vaguely moulded shape to the clypeus and head. Incised indentations mark the humeral callosities. Delicately feathered legs wrap around the circumference of the base. The scarab has been pierced longitudinally for suspension upon a metal wire, which was curled around a plain, bronze, rounded band. The reverse features a symmetrical pattern consisting of looping lines coming off of a central stem. This is probably a stylised representative of the papyrus reed, which was symbolic of the lower Nile region, in which the Hyksos kingdom was best established.

Swivel rings could have a practical function, the scarab used as a personal seal, or they could simply be decorative and worn for their apotropaic status.

Date: Circa 1750–1550 BC
Period: Hyksos Period, 15th – 17th Dynasty

Object History

From a Private Dorset collection, 1980s-1990s.

Object Condition

Very fine condition. There is some patination and encrustation over the metal band but the scarab is still able to swivel on its wire axel. The surface of the scarab itself is slightly eroded with some small speckled indentations. The engraving on the reverse is clearly pronounced and legible.

Object Details