An etruscan gold pendant with burnt stone scarab.
H. 50 mm; gr. 6,9
The pendant has spherical hoop with a transversal hole, in gold foil. The bezel is oval with a beaded edge, containing a burned scarab (without incisions on the back) fixed with two floral clasps; upper frame formed by a frontal female protome equipped with two small lateral wings. For the style of the female head: pendant from Canusium (Marshall 1911, n. 2272). A significant comparison comes from the collection of goldsmiths acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of NY and originally found in Vulci, in particular with a necklace (inv. No. 40.11.7). Wear marks and burning. Slight faults and cracking on the scarab. Rare.For comparisons: Aa.Vv., L'Oro degli Etruschi, edited by M. Cristofani and M. Martelli, p. 299 n. 185. This lot is listed in an invoice from parisian gallery Mythes et Légendes by Michel Cohen in 1986, mentionning that the piece was formerly in Arthur Sambon (1867-1947) collection.
6th century BC.