Egyptomania
While western Europe had been fascinated with ancient Egypt for centuries, the events of 1798 reignited a vogue for Egyptian-inspired design on both sides of the English Channel.
In France, people avidly followed the work of the scholarly expedition that had accompanied Napoleon's Egyptian campaign. Voyages dans la basse et la haute Égypte – the account published by its leader, Dominique-Vivant Denon – became a best-seller in both French and English.
In Britain, 'Egyptomania' was intensiļ¬ed by Nelson's victory at the Nile. Motifs such as crocodiles appeared on pottery, furniture and jewellery.
This craze had a competitive edge. When the Egyptian campaign ended in French defeat in 1801, many of the antiquities uncovered by Napoleon's scholars – including the famous Rosetta Stone – were surrendered to British troops. Instead of becoming part of the French national collection, these treasures were proudly installed in the British Museum.