Featured Help with mark on scarab pendant

Hi folk,
I haven't had much luck lately so nothing to share. But today I bough a blue scarab pendant in silver tone setting, and after researching a bit, it looks like Egyptian revival piece made of blue faience and set in silver tone pot metal, probably 1920s-1930s. What puzzles me is the mark, it is marked on the back but I can't make up what it means. Does not look like any mark I have seen, would be very grateful for any clue! Thanks in advance!
I did my best with the photos.

 

Image 'scar3' was just too blurry for me to work with.....and is that a grasshopper on the end of the back?? 'Scar2.' I was able to work with a bit....sharpened a bit..the smaller image, then enlarged 2X.....I STILL don't know what it shows though....and NOT sure of orientation..... others might.....



enlarged 2X: Tell me if it needs turning....or someone else can!


Just one more.....Did NOT apply ANY filters...only enlarged slightly in Photoshop and straightened.....does this set off any 'light bulbs' for anyone?? I think it's about all I've got!! I know it's blurry, but someone might see the "whole picture" better in this.....

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Thank you so much, Aqui! You did a great job with my poor quality photos. Tomorrow I will try to photo the mark again, today it was a gloomy day here. And will see if something more can be made of it.
It is indeed indiscernible even under magnifying glass, I was hoping someone might have seen similar.

 

Nice pendant, Iva, the faience scarab is particularly nice. They used antique scarabs sometimes.
The metal looks silver plated with some of the base metal showing here and there.
The mark is probably a maker's mark, could be Egyptian. But since it ilooks silver plate and not silver or gold, it will be difficult to find any information.

Datewise my guess is late 60s, I remember seeing similar work around that time.

 

@IvaPan, I was doing TERRIBLE with my iPhone when it was new, and it's a (13)... not the BEST model....but got some great tips from Coin Talk....the 'sister site'!! So when I can't hold it steady enough for a small close-up, I get a stack of books or the like, rest the camera over the edge and get it focused that way, carefully zoomed in, with a gentle press taking the photo....for me....works just about every time!!! MIGHT help with tiny items!! Good luck!!

 

Thank you, Any! As it is the first time I ever have a scarab item, I took the info about date from Etsy and as we all know, it's not a very trustworthy source of information So it is 1960s and Egyptian. Now I know, thanks again!

 

Thank you for the tip, Aqui! I always struggle with the cellphone, especially when I have to hold my hand steady, so I will use it in the future.

 

Any, one more issue I was wondering - I found online offers for faience scarabs mounted in 14 and 18 K gold and in .900 silver, and IMO, this leads to the conclusion that faience scarabs worth something (i.e. are of some value), especially if they are ancient, as you said. But in this case, the scarab is mounted in a base metal. It somehow puzzles me, I know that glass can be mounted in gold but never have heard about the opposite, i.e. diamonds mounted in base metal, and if we apply the same logic, the scarab shouldn't be faience. But it looks like faience and indeed looks nice, deserving more than silver plated base metal. Somehow. Maybe there is some peculiarity with these scarabs I am not aware of, for example there are many of them found in Egypt, or a lot of modern faience scarabs are made to mimic old scarabs. And still it just does not fit.

Now I recall that I found recently a very ordinary looking brooch with a trombone clasp. I have always though that this type of clasp was used in 1920-30s to secure more valuable brooches and a simple hook was used for ordinary ones. And now that... Somehow does not fit.

 

I agree, it is a beauty, and it wouldn't look out of place in a gold setting.
I think the Egyptians found many scarabs, often dug up and sold by poor people from rural areas. Some extra income.
Because there were so many scarabs, they probably thought: we might as well use them.
And now it is yours to enjoy.

 

Thank you, Any! It seems quite plausible, indeed.

 

The one legible bit looks like an Egyptian date letter:

 

Thank you, Bronwen! Indeed it looks similar, so it can be dated in 1976-1977 (at least it is what I see...)

I remember that you have posted this table and I was looking for it but could not find. It is not often that Egyptian pieces occur here so I did not pay much attention at the time. Now with you permission I intend to make a copy of it, if you don't mind. Please let me know.
Thanks again!

 

It looks to be like the scarab has a hole in the end like a bead. The old scarabs were used in swivel rings or on a cord since the back side would have the owners seal to be impressed in wax. So the scarab could be an old one.

 

I copied it from an Egyptian government site, so feel free to copy from me. There is one other error I did not catch: the dates for E should be 1929-1930.

 

Thank you, Lark, for this insight! I will specifically pay attention if there are holes as if a bead, and will post here. Unfortunately the scarab is set with the back enclosed in metal, so if there are any markings on the back, they are not visible. But I will examine it for holes and will try to photo and post here the result.
I saw in the listings of faience scarabs that most of them are set with open backs and there are indeed inscriptions on their backs. I was wondering what they are, and now thanks to you I know. Thanks again!

Thanks, Bronwen! I will copy it then, and will mark this correction.

You, guys, are really wonderful, knowledgable and always willing to share your knowledge and experience! I feel privileged to be part of this community! Respect!

 

We are very happy that you joined us.
Your good eye and critical mind keep us on our toes, and your knowledge of your part of Europe enriches us.

 

You are so kind, thank you, Any! I don't deserve it, I am still very, very far from knowledge but I do try and learn little by little. And I am really glad that my abilities, although limited, can be of use sometimes. In my reckoning, it is the true virtue of team work, that everyone contributes to the extent of their abilities and knowledge. It is a distinctive feature of this forum, and also the remarkably friendly and respectful discussions. With some rare exceptions that are quickly neutralised. That's why I do like this place and hang around every time I can!

 

Lark, you are a magician! How could you possibly see the holes on my bad and insufficient photos!
I just checked and there are indeed nice round holes on both ends of the scarab like a bead. It is too dark now but tomorrow I will try to photo and post. So it indeed could be an old one... Thank you!

 

Aqui, I am such a fool.. - I did not pay enough attention to your remark when you posted (I am sorry!) but now I looked more carefully and it really looks like a grasshopper! It might just be coincidence of course, that scratches on the silver plate resemble a grasshopper. But enlarged it looks so realistic! I will try to research this and see what comes out. Thank you!

 

You are welcome. I did not know about how scarabs were used until i researched them to identify a large one my father had made into a pendant for my mom. The hole was just barely visible. My sister chose it when we divided up the jewelry or i would show it to you. I could just barely see what appeared to be the hole on yours.