CNG 91, Lot: 1715. Estimate $750. Sold for $800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

2nd Intermediate Period. Circa 1650-1550 BC. Turquoise glazed steatite scarab (16x11mm). Base engraved with a papyrus plant motif. Intact, pierced for mounting. Rare, this cataloguer unable to find any similar design.

From the Dr. John N. Winnie Collection. Ex Sotheby’s (7 December 2001), lot 3 (part of); Property of a German Private Collection, acquired between 1955-1965.

The line of discoloration on the back tells us that the scarab was mounted in a swivel ring and the part in contact with the wearer’s skin lost with time part of the glaze.