Victorian Faience Scarab Ring

Cool Victorian scarab ring that, although not exactly in the true Archaeological Revival style, is very much after that fashion. The scarab is made of faience, a type of ceramic material that's been produced in Egypt for many thousands of years, and was thought to hold magical properties of fertility, renewal, and rebirth. It's created from powdered quartz (silica, probably literally sand) mixed with various alkaline salts, small amounts of lime, and a metallic colourant (often sodium and calcium). I often think its ancient creators must have felt they were dabbling in some kind of otherworldly alchemy when they produced such 'gems' from powder and sand. It's set in a simple 9 carat gold ring mount and dates from the latter half of the nineteenth century, circa 1880. Era: Victorian, circa 1880 Stone: Faience Scarab Ring size: R 1/2 or 9 US. Not resizable. Head: 17.2mm by 13.2mm Marks: Stamped 9ct Condition: Good antique condition; some edge chips to the scarab - see images.