Egyptian Revival Scarab Beetle Brooch
Remarkable scarab beetle brooch dating from latter half of the 19th century, circa 1880. The 19th century saw: a two waves of Egyptomania that captured hearts and minds in Europe and the US, and the Victorians, fascinated as they were with naturalism and Ancient Revivals, put their own stamp on pieces like this...
It's built around a real iridescent jewel beetle, a species of scarab, with rich 18 carat gold fittings and a heart on its back mimicking the shape of its wing cases. A defining feature of many jewel beetles are their bright, iridescent colours, ranging from greens to blues and a whole variety of rainbow shades in between. Somewhat surprisingly, their striking colouration can actually help the jewel beetle to blend into their environment and deter predators. To the Ancient Egyptians, the scarab symbolised protection and transformation and were often used to adorn jewellery and ceremonial objects.
Era: Victorian, circa 1880
Size: 4.8cm by 1.8cm
Marks: None, tested as 18ct gold
Condition: Good antique condition, wear consistent with age
Full appraisal document provided with each item.
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable).
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain).
Shipping
DHL Express shipping is free of charge on international orders over £300 and it's carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
US Shipments
US Customs no longer charges a 10% tariff on antiques shipped from the UK. We will ensure that our parcels are correctly declared using the relevant HTS codes to qualify for the tariff exemption and zero-rated (0%) duties so you won't have any customs fees to pay at the border. You will remain liable for any handling/storage fees charged by DHL as a result of a delay in providing any additional customs information.
[Last updated: September 2026]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
25% deposit taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff or scrape is quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
Buying a Gift?
Leave a note at checkout and we'll include a handwritten note to the recipient. Just tell us what you'd like to say :)
More Questions?
Get in touch... There's a live chat at the bottom right of the page.
info@lostowl.com