Actress Vivien Leigh in the 1945 film Anthony and Cleopatra.
Like other art forms, fashion and jewelry are influenced by the discoveries and news of the day. One recurring theme of fashion is ancient Egypt and the heroine Cleopatra. In fact, there has been a recent controversy about the casting of Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot as Cleopatra for the next movie remake of the classic story.
Let’s take a look at the history of Egyptomania and resulting styles, including a few available pieces from our collection.
In the 20th Century, the 1922 discovery of King Tut's tomb created a huge fashion influence of ancient Egyptian style. This theme continued in the 1960s with the film release of Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, and again in the 1970s with a national museum tour of the Treasures of King Tut's tomb.
On the left: A 1920s scarab ring.
On the right: A 1940s Miriam Haskell necklace.
I have no doubt that when the next iteration of Cleopatra hits the theaters, that Egyptomania will resurface in fashion. So it's always good to have a couple of pieces in your collection to stay ahead of the curve.
