Scarab
Unknown Artist
ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
Medium
Faience
Dimensions
L. 1.1 cm (7/16 in.)
Classification
Scarab
Period
New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1923
Accession Number
23.3.354
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite scarab, crafted around 1479–1458 B.C. during Egypt's New Kingdom Dynasty 18, exemplifies the era's mastery of miniature artistry. Measuring just 1.1 cm long, it is made of faience—a sophisticated composite of quartz, lime, and clay covered in a vibrant turquoise glaze. Faience mimicked precious lapis lazuli, making such small objects accessible yet symbolically potent for both elite and common Egyptians. Produced at the height of the 18th Dynasty, under pharaohs like Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, it reflects a golden age of imperial expansion and refined craftsmanship. In ancien...