A pair of Late 19th Century French scarab cufflinks

A pair of Late 19th Century French scarab cufflinks

Description

A pair of Late 19th Century French scarab cufflinks, each cufflink with two scarab beetles bezel set to yellow gold mounts with chain fittings, bearing French hallmarks for 18ct gold, circa 1890, measuring approximately 1.5 x 1.1cm, gross weight 5.3grams.

This pair of Late 19th Century French scarab set cufflinks is a fantastic nod to a larger trend that was taking place in France, and indeed the rest of Europe, during the 19th and early 20th Centuries. “Egyptomania” as it later became known as, was a period in history when there was an obsession with Ancient Egyptian art. Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion and capture of Egypt at the end of the 18th Century resulted in a wave of previously unseen ancient art to the masses. Soon, the Egyptian style began to influence French architecture, art, and of course jewellery. As with any trend, the demand for Egyptian pieces ebbed and flowed over the years, with peaks often coinciding with recent archaeological discoveries. For instance, the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 by Howard Carter resulted in a huge increase in Egyptian style art and jewellery. These cufflinks represent a time when the Egyptian style was experiencing a steady increase in popularity once more. The subtle bottle green glow of the beetle’s scutellum is a fantastic way to add a dash of colour. These cufflinks would contrast wonderfully with a crisp white shirt.