What is a scarab in jewellery?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
A scarab in jewellery is a pendant, ring, brooch or carved gem in the form of a scarab beetle, taken from the ancient Egyptian symbol of rebirth and renewal. The Egyptians revered the scarab because they observed dung beetles rolling their balls of dung across the ground and linked this to the sun rolling across the sky; the beetle therefore became associated with the sun god Ra, protection and the cycle of life. Carved scarabs were used as seals, amulets and funerary objects for thousands of years, and their form entered Western jewellery with enormous enthusiasm after the opening of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, particularly in Art Deco pieces.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a scarab symbolise?
- In ancient Egyptian tradition the scarab symbolised rebirth, regeneration, protection and the rising sun. It was believed to offer its wearer protection against harm and was one of the most powerful amulets in Egyptian culture, worn by the living and placed with the dead.
- What materials are scarab jewellery pieces made from?
- Ancient Egyptian scarabs were carved from stone, faience, glass and semi-precious materials like lapis lazuli, carnelian and turquoise. Modern and Art Deco scarab jewellery tends to use similar coloured stones or enamel set in gold or silver, with the beetle form either carved in relief or shaped fully in the round.
- Why did scarab jewellery become popular in the 1920s?
- The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 caused a worldwide fascination with ancient Egypt. Jewellery designers immediately incorporated Egyptian motifs, and the scarab was one of the most recognisable and adaptable of them, appearing in brooches, bracelets and rings by houses including Cartier, Van Cleef and many others during the Art Deco period.
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