An Egyptian Revival ivory, mother of pearl, green stained fruitwood and abalone shell inlaid iron mounted padouk and marquetry suite circa 1925

comprising a sofa and two matching armchairs and a centre table.,the sofa with a rectangular tripartite panelled back the top-rail surmounted by an eagle probably Horus on downscrolled arms supported on iron lions with a drop-in leather upholstered seat on Egyptian turned front supports terminating in paw feet and rear animal legs and paw feet joined by stretchers the whole decorated with Egyptian and geometric motifs each armchair similarly decorated, the table with a square top inlaid with a roundel and stylised foliage with scarab at each corner the frieze with Egyptian motifs on winged Egyptian turned supports terminating in paw feet joined by an x-form stretcher centred by a globular finial

In overall very good conserved condition. The quality of the inlay is good there is some old very minor marks, chips and scratches commensurate with age and usage. There is a restoration to the top of the left arm of the sofa which has been well executed and is hardly noticeable and to the rear right foot. There are restored cracks in the back panels in the sofa and chairs generally but these have been very well executed and are hardly noticeable. The chairs and sofa have been reblocked. There has been some very minor restorations to the veneer in places especially to the arms of the armchairs and a restoration to the front left leg and foot and top of right leg of the same armchair. There is a restoration to the other armchair where the stretcher joins the rear left leg. The table has restored cracks to the top but these have been very well executed and are hardly noticeable. The globular finial on the stretcher has been restored.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
Jean-Marcel Humbert (ed.), Egyptomania: L’Egypte dans l’Art Occidental 1730-1930, Paris, 1994.

After a first Egyptomania period following the Napoleonic excavations, and a second one after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 by Howard Carter and the 5^th Earl of Carnarvon led to a revival of the Egyptian taste throughout the world and the present lot is a fine example of this.

The quality of the present lot would suggest an English or French production but its origins may even be Egyptian, namely the Madrasa Craft School in Touhk. The school workshops became well known for this type of Egyptian revival furniture blending European taste with archaeological aesthetics and exhibited in the International Fair of Cairo in 1926 where they were highly praised. Special commissions from King Farouk for the royal residences followed as well as from the mayor of Cairo (see a suite of furniture, sold Christie's New York, 24 May 1984, lots 333-341).  

A fine desk with very similar decoration to the present lot by the Madrasa Craft School of Touhk, once in the collections of the Earls of Carnarvon, was exhibited in the Louvre Museum, Egyptomania, (Humbert, nr. 346, pp. 520-521). A related, but less fine, oak suite comprising a pair of armchairs and a settee was presented for sale with Bonhams, The Egyptian Revival Sale, London, 23rd January 2008, lot 10.