A late 19th century French Egyptian Revival bronze and gilt bronze torchere, attributed to George Servant

Modelled as a standing pharaoh supporting a central column surmounted by a twin handled urn, the base with panels of Egyptian figures and hieroglyphics, the base with scarab decoration, later wired for electricity, 154cm high.




A torchere of this model attributed to Servant was sold Christie's London, 29 Jan 2013, lot 215.



Egyptian-Revival interiors were recorded in Europe as far back as the Renaissance period although the style gained more popularity in the late 18th century. In the 19th century the movement extended beyond an admiration for the style or an interest in Egyptology and became a full blown movement - a key part of the movement now sometimes referred to as Egyptomania. In England in the early 19th century the style was employed to great effect in the Egyptian Hall at Stowe House, Buckinghamshire and in Thomas Hope’s iconic Egyptian Room at Duchess Street, London and featuring in his popular design book Furniture and Interior Decoration, published in 1807. Napoleon Bonaparte’s expedition to Egypt (1798 and 1801) was significant in altering relations between Egypt and the west. Amongst the expedition party were artists who along with scientists and technicians fostered interest in Egypt.The opening of the Suez canal (1869) and of the Cairo Opera house (1871) hugely increased awareness of all things Egyptian across Europe. The Khedive of Egypt commissioned the opera Aida which helped to reinforce notions of ancient Egypt internationally and added fuel to the fashion for all things Egyptian. This movement was to continue in the 20th century with Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun (1922) influencing the merging of the Egyptian and Art Deco styles during the 1920’s.