The monumental publication Description de l’Égypte (1809-1829), produced by Napoleon’s multidisciplinary team of scholars, brought the wonders of ancient Egypt to European notice, and opened up a rich vein of inspiration for artists, architects, and craftsmen in all media.
An ebony and ivory stool with the remains of a leather seat, Eighteenth Dynasty. British Museum (EA2472). Image: Robert B Partridge
The new-found fascination for ancient designs inspired further publications that had significant influence on the decorative arts throughout the 19th century, especially in the Empire and Art Nouveau styles. The English traveller and one of the earliest Egyptologists, Sir John Gar
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