Featured Egyptian revival bracelet with bugs (scarabs)

When hunting down cameos to ask about, I came across this bracelet that I've wondered about too. There are no markings at all, so no clear indication of the metal or age, so I bought it as costume with a couple other bracelets about a year ago. But it seems better to me than that, and I think it has some age - possibly a ridiculous amount of age for the scarabs if they are authentic. Besides knowing when it was made and other history, one other thing I would really appreciate is how to open it up - if you recognize the clasp what I should do to open it since it doesn't open easily and I don't want to break it by stressing it the wrong way. Sorry the colors don't look great - in real life the turquoise colors are quite nice and close but not exactly the same for each of the bugs.

 

seems very well made for costume!! push down on the button..wedge like spring slope inside. Unless it is broken..just push down and pull the smaller rectangle out

 

Looks like good costume as far as the setting goes. If you push that wee button down, the two halves ought to pull apart as you do so. You'll find there's a sort of tongue on one side, socket on t'other.

I don't think the scarabs are ancient. I do have one which is: those look a bit too crisp and the colour is too pale and a bit faded. Also, they have different emblems on each head? That's not usual. They are, however, lovely quality, so could be very good replicas.

The whole thing is very well done: did you notice the lotus heads either side of the clasp?

 

And actually, looking again, I wonder. I thought I was seeing wear on the clasp metal, but the settings are very bright. Is it magnetic?

 

Gorgeous bracelet, is this a mark?



Third photo, upper right. Could we see it close up?

 

And another one maybe? The rectangle next to the chip:

 

looks like a mark on the lower left of the clasp too !!

Very nice !!!!!

 

Komo, you're right! Marks galore! And we want pics of all of them.

 

dare I say Egyptian Revival....1930's...Smithsonian......

JUST FOR FUN !!!!!

 

It was made in Egypt, the scarabs are undoubtedly not ancient, it is probably marked for 800 silver on the tongue of the clasp, probably also on some other places on the frames of the scarabs & may have a date letter on the tongue as well, although not necessarily. This guide will show you what you're looking for & how to read them. It's souvenir jewellery, but nice souvenir jewellery, most likely 1940s - 70s.

 

This is a 'find' of mine from a few years ago. The ring is marked as Egyptian, 900 silver, with the date letter for 1931/32. It holds a Roman glass intaglio of a satyr steadying the drunken Silenus from falling off his donkey.

 

Nice! The bracelet is nice too.

 

I'd love to see yours plus how to distinguish ancient from repro. I'll take pics to show the color better.

You are right on! When I got the guts to open it with bob and ownedbybears help, there are very tiny marks that show 800 silver Cairo plus a date mark hard to make out but I think 1932. I looked at all the other marks pointed out with a loupe, and don't see anything recognizable but will take pics of those too - can't post till next week though

 

Middle Eastern and Egyptian jewellery often has marks on different, sometimes all, components. So, even without seeing the marks, the conclusion so far would have been Egyptian made. An .800 Cairo mark confirms that, 1932 makes sense. Looking forward to pictures.
As Bronwen said, the scarabs are probably not ancient. They are still making them, also with those hieroglyphs on the back.
The value of this bracelet is in the style and the period.

 

My ancient scarab: can you see the better glaze, colour and the real irregularity in the carving? Beads are (mostly) old too.

 

Modern one.

 

Get your loupe out.
Is this a mark?



Owned's example appears to be clay with enamel -
Is your chip the same as hers with enamel glaze over the clay or is it white with black crystals inside the chip, or even turquoise in color?

 

The repros are faience as well, it's worth saying.

 

I have a scarab pendant that would match. I might need this bracelet!

 

The top one is on Pinterest.....don't they have a very similar look ?