An Egyptian green basalt heart scarab
Third Intermediate Period, 21st-26th Dynasty, circa 1069-664 B.C.
Naturalistically carved as a scarab beetle, the wing-case striated, the underside finely inscribed with eight lines of hieroglyphs from Chapter 30B of the Book of the Dead, a space left blank in the top line for the name of the deceased, 7.6cm long注脚Provenance:
Parker collection, acquired 1930.
Dr Richard H. Smith (b. 1891) collection, California, acquired 1940s-1960s; and thence by descent.
Anonymous sale; Bonhams, London, 23 May 2012, lot 279.
UK art market.
US art market.
Private collection, North America.