Scarab Finger Ring

Modern gold finger ring with an oval shaped swivelling bezel containing an ancient steatite stone scarab, inscribed 'Sw sA ra' (Shu the Son of Ra) in hieroglyphs. This is a royal motto that would provide the wearer with protection. The scarab is more than likely genuine, but the ring and setting are modern and made for Sir Rider Haggard to wear, like other such rings he owned in Liverpool's and Norwich Castle Museum's collections. For the inscription see an example formerly in the Amherst collection published by Percy Newberry in 'Scarabs' (London, 1906 ) p. 191 [9], pl. XLI [9].