Athénienne End Directoire, Early Consulat Period, Circa1800.

Athénienne late period Directory, early consulate circa 1800.
Athenian back from Egypt Consulate period of circular shape in mahogany veneer from Cuba, carved wood, partially gilded lacquered and marble. Its cylindrical tray is centered with a speckled anthracite marble surrounded by a crown with a sharp angle mahogany veneer belt. It rests on a tripod base carved wood lacquered way bronze and partially gilded. Each of the curved feet is surmounted by a falcon head depicting the god Horus, the middle part and the top of the base are adorned with plumage, the whole is finished with claw feet and united in the central part by a tablet of circular crotch topped with marble. Period end Directoire, early Consulate, return period from Egypt to 1798 to 1801. Dimension, Height 98cm diameter 36cm.
Good condition of house formerly restored.
Art has often been inspired by earlier periods, going as far as to borrow decorative themes from antiquity. So it is with Egypt, which gave material, after the expedition of Bonaparte, to many reuses and adaptations. Original elements, which we had never seen under our skies: pylons of the temples with cornices with grooves, sculptures of heads topped with nemes (pharaonic headdress of striped linen), sphinx ..., are appreciated by the soldiers and scientists who on their return, do not fail to mention it. But, above all, the expedition has given rise to a number of works which have made available to artists an illustrated documentation of much better quality than that which existed until then. It has been said that at the end of the eighteenth century, "Antiquity was novelty". This appreciation applies particularly to the Egyptian domain, which, long before the Egyptian campaign, had already inspired artists. And, in spite of the military failure of the expedition, a true fashion leaves France to win all Europe up to Russia. Houses, fountains, interiors are decorated to the Egyptian; the furniture is also concerned, with the widespread use of the head capped nemes, as well as many objects: the manufacture of Sèvres creates table services to the Egyptian, sphinx become orirons or inkwells, candelabra are worn by Egyptians, in short, all of Egypt is evoked and rehabilitated. And many of those who participated in the Egyptian expedition will be buried in tombs with Egyptian decorations! Much of this Egyptomania is in fact politically inspired, this "official" fashion having been organized to divert attention from military failure. As a result, it benefited the myth of Napoleon, which developed throughout the nineteenth century.