A small steatite scarab with apotropaic hieroglyphs to the reverse. The base has been finely carved with two undulating uraei (sacred cobras), a nfr (nefer) sign, a three-pronged plant, probably a papyrus plant, and a neb sign.
 
Ancient Egyptian Hyksos Period: Circa 1650-1550 BC.
 
Very Fine condition.
Length 13.8 mms (0.55 ins)
 
Provenance: From the Gustave Mustaki collection, a collector of antiquities who amassed large collection in Alexandria (Egypt) in the early 20th century and his collection came to the UK under Egyptian licence in 1947.
 
The scarab was a powerful ancient artifact connecting the owner to core Egyptian beliefs in protection, life, and eternal renewal. The combination of these symbols was intended to offer strong apotropaic (evil warding) protection, as well as good health/fortune to the wearer, both in life and the afterlife.
 
See our blog post on scarabs