Black glass scarab clasp

When King Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered in the 1920s, it set off a craze for Egyptian costume jewelry. The scarab is an ancient symbol of vitality and new life. It was buried in the tombs of ancient Egyptians to insure a new heart in the next life. It has always been a fortuitous symbol to wear and has roots in many ancient cultures. This particular specimen is a vintage German reproduction from the 1920s. It looks like onyx, but it is incised glass. The incising is sharp and the pattern is clear. The vintage piece has been bezel set in a hand-made sterling silver box clasp. These clasps are made to my specifications by some of the finest silversmiths in the world who work in the hidden recesses of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. The clasp is 27 mm from ring to ring. It is 13 mm wide and 10 mm thick.