Thus, this narrative begins with Napoleon Bonaparte, specifically focusing on the Egyptian campaign launched between 1798 and 1801 under his direction and command. The primary objective of this expedition was to seize control of Egypt to curb the reach of England, France’s chief adversary, within that territory. Although the French military ultimately failed in its endeavors, the venture yielded significant scientific benefits. A Commission of Sciences and Arts accompanied the forces, gathering and transporting a vast array of historical artifacts back to Europe.
Christian Dior Egyptian style necklace with faux turquoise scarabs, 2004.
On August 22, 1798, Napoleon issued a decree founding the Institute of Egypt, comprised of thirty-six members. One major outcome of this institution’s efforts was the comprehensive “Description of Egypt,” which laid the groundwork for contemporary Egyptology. Furthermore, the discovery of the Rosetta Stone during the mission enabled the decoding of ancient Egyptian script. The enigmatic and grand legacy of this ancient civilization sparked widespread fascination beyond academic boundaries. Public enthusiasm ignited a trend for all things Egyptian, influencing everything from architectural design to adornments.
Scarab pendant in lapis lazuli, set in gold, circa 2000.
The earliest jewelry reflecting an Egyptian aesthetic emerged in the 1820s, drawing inspiration from ancient motifs found on temple walls, such as scarabs, sphinxes, rulers, and hieroglyphic scripts. Depictions of monarchs were frequently engraved onto semi-precious gems as cameos or bas-reliefs, typically showcasing the distinctive striped linen crown known as a nemes.
Gold brooch in the form of a pharaoh’s mask, coral, turquoise, diamonds, sapphires, Trio, circa 1980.
Among the artifacts unearthed by explorers and seekers in Egyptian graves, ancient ornaments were arguably the most captivating, admired for their opulence and unique iconography. Numerous ateliers, including Karl Bacher’s firm in Vienna, focused on crafting pieces in this archaeological vein. By the late nineteenth century, as interest in archaeologically inspired accessories waned, the Egyptian motif found fresh expression within Art Nouveau designs.
Egyptian style scarab necklace, gilt, enamel, carnelian, Adrian Mann, London, circa 1970.
The 1922 unearthing of Tutankhamun’s tomb by Howard Carter generated immense public excitement and triggered a resurgence of Egyptomania. Jewelry from the Art Deco period, styled after Ancient Egyptian royalty, stands out as one of the most lavish and splendid interpretations of that era’s aesthetic.
Hathor presents the ankh to Queen Nefertari Merenmut, a painting from her tomb.
For over two hundred years, the allure of Ancient Egypt’s imagery and symbols has motivated artisans worldwide to produce pieces in this distinctive style. Public fascination with these items has fluctuated, diminishing and resurging repeatedly. Even today, such creations continue to be made, driven by the timeless desire for every woman to embody the regal spirit of an Egyptian queen.
Art Deco pendant necklace with ankh, gold, diamonds, enamel, France, circa 1930.The most famous image of the Hieracosphinx is in the Temple of Horus at Edfu. The name was coined by Herodotus (484–425 BC), a Greek historian, during his journey to Egypt.Art Deco brooch with the image of the Hieracosphinx (incarnation of the god Horus with the body of a lion and the head of a falcon), gold, enamel, early 20th century.Clip on earrings in Egyptian style, set with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and onyxes, Lacloche Frères, Paris, 1925.Art Deco silver brooch with carved turquoise pharaoh flanked by sphinxes, decorated with enamel, circa 1920.Rare Art Deco brooch with carved lapis lazuli pharaoh, set with diamonds, ruby, pearls and enamel, circa 1920 1930.Winged brooch in silver with a carved opal scarab, decorated with stained glass enamel, Austria, circa 1915.Gilt silver pendant brooch in the form of an amazonite scarab surrounded by stylized peacocks, decorated with stained glass enamel, circa 1920.Egyptian style scarab necklace in hammered gold with enamel wings and lapis lazuli, jade and coral beads, Marcus & Co., circa 1905.Art Nouveau necklace in silver with stained glass enamel, Levinger und Bissinger, Germany, circa 1905.Scarab opals have an incredible palette of iridescent colors in shades of yellow, green, blue, purple and pink, perfectly complementing the rich color of amber.Gold necklace with amber and scarabs in carved opal, circa 1900.Gold brooch in the form of a carnelian scarab, decorated with diamonds and enamel, St. Petersburg, 1899 1908.Silver pendant with stained glass enamel in Art Nouveau style with carved image of a pharaoh in jasper, circa 1900.Gold brooch with carved image of a pharaoh in red jasper, Maison Birks, Canada, circa 1890.Gold earrings set with diamonds, rubies and enamel, Pharaoh’s face carved from two natural purple amethysts, Carl Bacher, Austria, circa 1870.Silver gilt necklace of intertwined snakes, decorated with enamel and garnets, France, circa 1880.Clock in gold, decorated with Egyptian enamel, David J. Magnin, Geneva, circa 1880.Gold Theban Scarab brooch pendant, decorated with guilloché enamel and garnet, Robert Phillips, London, circa 1865.Set of gold jewelry with micromosaic brooch and earrings with the image of a pharaoh, circa 1880.Gold winged brooch with a carved image of a moonstone pharaoh surrounded by snakes, circa 1860.Gold Pharaoh necklace with carved citrine, circa 1820.
