Excavations in the 1800’s created an interest in Egyptian style in Victorian era jewelry. The Art Nouveau jewelry makers utilized Egyptian motifs; winged scarabs are a beautiful example, often with wings of translucent plique a’jour enamel. Discovery of King Tut’s tomb in the 1920’s made Art Deco jewelers interested in re-creating the style. In the 1960’s, the movie “Cleopatra” created another surge of interest in these motifs. Each era interpreted Egyptian designs in their own way. Scarabs, asps, ankhs, sphinxes, pharonic heads – these and other motifs reflected the art and history of ancient Egypt.
