Egyptian
Scarab, 1479 BCE - 1070 BCE
Stone, 5/8 x 1/2 x 3/8 in. (1.6 x 1.2 x 1 cm)
This tiny, oval scarab is made of Egyptian faience, which is a self-glazing ceramic. This scarab is a dung beetle with worn, chipped black glaze. It has closed wings over its tripart carapace. Its 6 legs are tucked tightly under its body so that only their partial outlines are visible in a side view. The legs raise the body slightly off the base. The head is tucked between its forelegs and the antennae lay flat against its curving head to make the overall shape a compact, domed oval. There are brown decorative incisions on the bottom of the scarab. Those incisions depict a smaller 6 legged beetle, an axe, a shovel or spoon, a circle, and a rake minus its handle. Those hieroglyphic symbols mean, "The Good God", Menkheperre prenomen of Thuthomosis III.
Little Salon
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.