Great surges of Egyptian Revivals are noted as Egyptomania. When people think of Egyptian Revival, they usually think that it only happened in the 1920s after the discovery of King Tutankhamens tomb in 1922. In this guide I will outline some of the most famous time periods in which the Egyptian Revival  surfaced.

The first major Egyptian Revival period was after Napoleon's campaigns in Egypt (1798-99) and the subsequent occupation by the British. During this time, Europeans became fascinated with the ancient Egyptian architecture and furniture. Egyptian ornamentation like scarab beetles, sphinxes, winged lions and lotuses, often with gilding, were applied to modern forms to create the  hybrid style referred to as "Egyptian Revival".

It then came out again in the 1820s-1850s. Egyptian Revival emerged as a result of the famous archaeological digs of the 19th century and was primarily used for memorials, Masonic temples, cemeteries and prisons. This style is distinguished by its adaptation of Egyptian forms and motifs, including lotus blossoms, the winged disk symbol of the sun God, as well as the use of bold colors. Other items were made and reflect the population's desire for the exotic.

Reed & Barton introduced an Egyptian themed tea set featuring sphinxes on the lids. Gorham produced a line of coin silver flatware with Pharaoh's heads, this pattern was called "Bust". Chamber sets were found with hieroglyphics and pharaoh's decorating a wide border. Bronze or cast brass candlesticks and sconces can be found with sphinxes or palmiform columns. Cast iron doorstops made in the shape of sphinxes were also popular. Books had  their cloth covers emblazoned with gilded Egyptian imagery.

Cemetery Gate in Connecticut with winged sun disk.

Then again in the 1870s-1880s, the Neo-Classical (or Neo-Greek) and Egyptian Revival styles were in vogue, and this time the styles were even more elaborate than before.These were the most exotic substyles of the Renaissance Revival and the Victorians were even more fascinated with these rare finds and incorporated their motifs into jewelry, furniture, glass and pottery.

More archaeological digs and the discoveries of ancient tombs and artifacts were brought to public knowledge by daily newspapers. The ancient obelisk dubbed "Cleopatra's Needle" was erected in New York's Central Park in 1880.

Liberty & Co of London launched the "Thebes Stool" in three legged or four legged versions in 1884 and sold in their catalogs as late as 1907, this design was directly influenced by ancient Egyptian stools, subsequently these proved to be so popular that look-a-likes entered the market to fulfill the demand.

Heavily ornamented furniture made its way into homes, by way of the parlor suite. Overstuffed armchairs with gilt pharaoh's heads, elegant sofa's with palmiform columns and lotus blossoms filled the middle class homes. 

The Meriden Silver Company introduced a line of Egyptian themed silverplated holloware in 1881. I have also seen some silverplated serving dishes, calling card trays, flatware and other objects with stylized Pharaoh's heads, lotus blossoms, scarab beetles, rams heads and sphinxes incorporated into the designs.

Clocks and mantle garnitures featuring sphinxes and other Egyptian motifs were popular also, the S. Marti Company produced an onyx clock suite with two matching obelisks that would flank the clock that was crowned with a bronze sphinx. Baccarat manufactured several gilt bronze and crystal items such as jardinieres, desk items, vases and jewel caskets.

Real scarab beetles were used in jewelry of the era, most pieces were set in gold. I have seen stickpins, brooches, bracelets, earrings,necklaces and a ring once featuring these preserved scarab beetles with their iridescent bodies.

Oil paintings were also popular way of bringing the exotic into the home, sumptuous Egyptian scenesand lush and sensuous beauties, most of them being Cleopatra, graced the canvases of such artists as Jean Andre Rixens, Jean-Leon Gerome, Mose Bianchi, Juan Luna, Alexandre Cabanel and others. Marble statues of Egyptian figures were also produced.

A little later in the 1880s, Egyptian designs merged with Art Nouveau and some of the finest pieces were produced in gold and silver jewelry, often times enamels and precious stones like diamonds were added to the overall design.

Egyptian Revival jewelry suite circa 1870s-1880s.

Thebes stool by Liberty & Co.

Art Nouveau pendant with Egyptian theme circa 1880s.

Real scarabs used in gold earrings circa 1870-1880.

The Egyptian Revival was resurrected in the 1920s, with the discovery of King Tut's tomb as mentioned earlier. Its major contributions were to the jewelry world, combining the streamlined geometric of Art Deco with ancient motifs for a fairly modern flair.

Many pieces of jewelry were produced during this time period, most notably are Pharaoh's heads, Queen Nefertiti, scarabs, winged sun disks, snakes, lotus blossoms, hieroglyphic writing and pyramids. The jewelry was made in precious metals like gold, platinum and silver as well as pieces made of lesser compositions of brass, white metal, pewter and glass. Most of these pieces were further enhanced with polychrome enameling, precious and semi precious stones, glass and celluloid.

Pottery with Egyptian themes were also popular, especially the rare pieces manufactured by Nippon craftsmen. Cast iron and bronze incense burners in the shape of  shapely Egyptian beauties were sold by Vantine's Oriental Store in New York.

Just before the 1920s began, the perfume companies starting producing perfumes, cosmetics and powder boxes with Egyptian motifs or figures were one way for the average woman to bring some of the exotic into her boudoir. Some of the best examples are El Mesdjem kohl by Dorin in 1892, La Reine d'Egypte by Gelle Freres in 1900, Myrbaha by Bichara in 1913,  Ramses IV by Ramses in 1919, Scarabee  by LT Piver in 1909, and Blue Lagoon  by Dubarry in 1919.

Throughout the 1910s and 1920s Ahmed Soliman of Cairo produced some of the finest perfume bottles, made of colored glass and painted with rich enamels of Egyptian figures. Beautiful commercial perfumes with Egyptian imagery continued in the 1920s with the additions of Djavidan  by L'Institute de Beaute in 1925, Ramses II by Bichara in 1928, Enigma by Lubin in 1921, Egypt by Colgate  and Egizia by la Ducale both in 1923

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Faience and enamel Scarab pendant circa 1920s.

 Djavidan by L'Institute de Beaute 1925.

Enigma by Lubin 1921

Ramses IV by Ramses 1919

To see more Egyptian inspired vintage perfumes like the ones shown here, please visit my guide here.

To learn about real Egyptian perfume bottles that are manufactured today, visit my guidehere.

I love studying about ancient Egypt, its culture, art and its effects on modern design. Any questions, please contact me.  

For further information on Egyptian Revival check out these books:

The Egyptian Revival: An introductory study of a recurring theme in the history of taste. by James Stevens Curl. London George Allen & Unwin:1982 copyright. A wide ranging, well-illustrated study of the influence of ancient Egyptian arts on Western art and architecture, from ancient Rome through the Middles Ages and Renaissance, and into the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.An important study, with extensive bibliography.

Egyptian Revival Jewelry and Designby Dale Reeves Nicholls, Shelly Foote and Robin Allison. 2006 copyright.

The Art of Perfumeby Christie Mayer Lefkowith. 1994 copyright. Several examples of Egyptian themed perfumes and powder boxes.

Commercial Perfume Bottles by Jacquelyn Jones-North. 1996 copyright. Some examples of Egyptian themed perfumes.

 Feel free to email me for details or any questions. I also have a perfume identification and appraisal service here on ebay, click on my  Me page for info. Please see my site at www .freewebs. com/cleopatrasboudoir

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