Two Winged Funerary Scarabs

CNG 91, Lot: 1750. Estimate $1000. Sold for $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Late Period. Circa 664-342 BC. Light green faience composite winged scarab (body 24x32mm, wings 45x16mm each). Body and wings decorated on the back, unadorned on base. Six holes for attachment on body and wings arranged so as to be largely hidden from back. Small chip at base of body, otherwise intact and a very pleasant specimen.

Scarabs with wings became popular from the 25th Dynasty onwards, their use exclusively funerary. The wings would be attached to the body and then stitched onto the mummy wrappings over the chest or incorporated into the bead-net covering the mummies.