Beetle Friend : Edwardian ‘Scarab’ Beetle Brooch in 9ct Gold

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The carapace of a real tortoise beetle has been immortalised in this antique brooch. With the addition of solid gold legs and antennae and a cute little bug face, he will live on forever as an endearing jewel.  Dating from 1870 – 1910, this little beetle was a fashion forward choice for jewellery throughout the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. It satisfied both the Victorian fetish for the natural world, and the Edwardian infatuation with Egyptology – tortoise beetles were often used in place of scarabs in Egyptian Revival jewellery. They are often found iridescent green, but this one is a deep jet black all over, the crisp ridges all over it’s shell catch and reflect light like highly polished Whitby jet.

I fell down quite a rabbit hole in trying to determine the date of this piece. In the chapter ‘The Cult of Novelty’ in the excellent tome Jewellery in the Age of Queen Victoria the authors describe how the tortoise beetle, whose native home is in the forests of Brazil, was introduced to Europe in the 1870s as an exotic ornament and incorporated into jewellery.

Manufacture: 
The black surface of the bug is, as we have already addressed, made from the carapace of a tortoise beetle. His belly, legs, face and antenna, as well as the brooch c-clasp, hinge and safety chain are all modelled in 9ct yellow gold. It is hallmarked 9ct to the underside.

The beetle measures 19.27mm x 20.14mm x 9.88mm.
Weighs 3 grams.

Condition: 
In outstanding condition, with no faults to note. Ready to be your everyday travel companion on your jacket or hat, or wherever you feel a beetle might like to live.

Description

The black surface of the bug is made from the carapace of a tortoise beetle. His belly, legs, face and antenna, as well as the brooch c-clasp, hinge and safety chain are all modelled in 9ct yellow gold. It is hallmarked 9ct to the underside.

The beetle measures 19.27mm x 20.14mm x 9.88mm.
Weighs 3 grams.