19th Century Egyptian Revival Micromosaic Tie Pin of a Scarab Beetle

19th Century Egyptian Revival Micromosaic Tie Pin of a Scarab BeetleThis exquisite micro mosaic tie pin from c. 1860 features a meticulously crafted scarab beetle with intricately designed legs and secondary wings. The masterful use of iridescent tesserae adds a shimmer that perfectly captures the essence of the beetle's wing. During the 19th century, Rome and Florence's micro mosaic workshops were a major source of these stunning jewels, especially the popular Etruscan Revival style with scarab beetle mosaics, which

This exquisite micro mosaic tie pin from c.1860 features a meticulously crafted scarab beetle with intricately designed legs and secondary wings. The masterful use of iridescent tesserae adds a shimmer that perfectly captures the essence of the beetle's wing. During the 19th century, Rome and Florence's micro mosaic workshops were a major source of these stunning jewels, especially the popular Etruscan Revival style with scarab beetle mosaics, which rose to prominence between 1860-70.

The scarab beetle held great significance in Ancient Egypt as it symbolised the connection between religion and nature. According to Egyptian beliefs, the beetles' rolling of dung represented the journey of the sun across the sky, while their emergence from the dung balls was seen as a symbol of birth from nothingness, closely linked to divinity. As a result, scarabs were viewed as a representation of the divine cycle of the sun, birth, and regeneration. The 19th and 20th centuries saw a surge in archaeological findings, leading to increased interest in ancient civilisations such as Egypt. This trend, known as Egyptian Revival, inspired many jewellers to replicate the beautiful jewels discovered during these excavations. The construction of the Suez Canal in 1869 further boosted awareness of Egyptian culture, which was heightened by the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in the early 20th century.