Provenance
The two groups below were purchased in 1958 and 1963 with a Wady Qurud provenance; those of 1963 were strung with modem African beads.
Previous assessment
Believed to be ancient, the beetles were stmng by Scott into the composite multicolored collar (see p. 170, above), along with the shield-shaped elements 289 discussed above.
Current understanding
Beetle amulets have been found in graves dated as early as Dynasties i and 5 (Reisner 1908: pis. 6, 9; Hassan 1936: pi. 52.2; Rigault 1999; see further Keimer 1931, 1936 [“coleopteres”], and C. Andrews 1994: 10, 23), and although several examples were in an early Dynasty 18 tomb at Thebes (Carnarvon and Carter 1912: 53, pi. 46.2 no. g, MMA 26.7.1372), the best parallels for the gold-cloisoned elements with dark blue inlay below are from the 6th dynasty tomb of Queen Iput at Saqqara (Firth and Gunn 1926: 12, pi. 15b no. 5; Vernier 1925: CG 52749). The latter elements are inlaid with lapis; their height without rings measures 2.3, their width 0.6. The author could not examine these amulets microscopically or radiographically, thus it is impossible to say whether any beetle below is technically comparable and likely to be of the same date.
No parallels at all have been found for the half-moon-shaped pendants, which also occur on 292. Their horizontal shape does not lend itself to the radiating shape of a broad collar, and their physical characteristics indicate modern work.
294 Twenty-four inlaid beetles Fig. 247 (above)
MMA 63.15.1a.
Source Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1962.
Materials Gold, lapis lazuli (in four elements), dark blue glass, undoubtedly cobalt-colored (in twenty elements); a few small pieces of faience.
Dimensions Average H of element 2.3 (without rings). Manufacture Gold of fairly even thickness; X ray shows it to be thin. Sixteen of the elements showed white flecks that Cleveland/Grossbard suggested could be in the bedding material. Backs made separately from sides, occasionally an additional cloison in the head area. Air holes drilled into backs. Upper and lower suspension rings hard-soldered on, the bottom one often showing wire marks. Half-moon-shaped pendants made of raised front, flat back with drilled air hole, and hard-soldered suspension ring; half-moons show
Considerable filing. As with 295, only the heads have single pieces of inlay.
Condition A few inlays missing.
Bibliography Hayes 1963: 66.
295 Twenty-four less substantial inlaid beetles
Fig. 247 (below)
MMA 58.153.II.
Source Purchase, Frederick P. Huntley Bequest,
1958.
Materials Gold; dark blue glass, undoubtedly cobalt-colored; a few pieces of faience.
Dimensions Average H of element 2.1 (without rings).
Manufacture Beetles less substantial than 294. Gold not of standard thickness; X rays revealed white flecks in two elements, as in 294. Narrow backs are bent up to form side walls; two strips divide the interior space into three cells. Hard-soldered suspension ring at top and bottom;
Some rings filed, others—with wire impressions—show they were bound when soldered. Some rings reinforced.
The bottom ring is attached to a wire loop from which a half-moon-shaped pendant hangs. Each pendant has a raised top, flat back with drilled air hole, and a very crude suspension ring.
The opaque blue glass inlay is of varied appearance: some is granular, some homogenous, some light, some dark. Single pieces fill only the beetles’ heads; at least two crudely cut pieces of glass are used to fill all other cloisons.
Condition Many inlays missing; also, a few rings and pendants.
World History
