Archaeological discoveries in Egypt in the late 1800s were front-page news throughout Europe and the United States. The tombs, pyramids, and Sphinx fascinated the Western world, and the acquisition of Egyptian antiquities and jewelry became all the rage among those who could afford it. Jewelers took note of this trend (most significantly Tiffany & Co, which was awarded a gold medal at the 1878 Paris Exposition for their reproductions of Egyptian treasures). Reproduction jewelry was made to satisfy the appetites of Egyptophiles, and this particular Egyptian-made brooch features a pair ibises flanking a faience scarab. The scarab rotates on a pin to reveal the cartouche on the back side. This remarkable brooch comes in its original box along with a time-worn note about the piece written on Smithsonian Institute letterhead.
MATERIALS: 22k gold (tests), faience
AGE: c. 1870
CONDITION: Excellent - note reads "The scarab is made of glazed clay, or faience, and is engraved with the cartouche of Thutmose III, King of Egypt 1502 - 1449 before the Christian Era. JM Casauwicz" (not sure that spelling of his last name is quite right)
SIZE: 2 1/8" x 1", 2 1/2" safety chain, 5/8" pin