History of French Furniture in Egypt
Upon arriving in Cairo during the French invasion of Egypt in 1798, Napoleon I began the introduction of French and European influences that were to become the foundation of a new cultural era. French designers traveling with Napoleon tried to make Cairo look like Paris by emulating both its’ architecture as well as the French furniture designs so popular during this era and the era of the Louis Kings that preceded it. In doing so, France left a legacy that even today is written all over the European style neighborhoods of Cairo. Many buildings in Cairo and other Egyptian cities have French colonial doors, wrought iron French style gates and French design balconies.
Working with groups of the finest Egyptian carpenters and craftsmen, these French designers assisted them in the manufacture of furniture according to all the classic French styles and motifs. Soon these accomplished craftsmen were producing classical period tables in the manner of the Louis Kings of France, occasional tables in a provincial design, French tables with marble tops, French poker and gaming tables, period French secretaries, classical secretary desks, French armchairs and 18th Century salon suites, chairs, French dining tables and chairs, French Bergères and gilded fauteuils with delicate cabriole legs, small French decorative chairs, French desks and bureau plats in the style of Louis XV & Louis XVI with inlaid leather tops, French desk chairs, marquetry and parquetry inlaid furniture of all kinds, hand painted furniture, French credenzas, inlaid French chests of drawers, French commodes , Bombe’ chests of drawers, luxury Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI French bahuts , French vitrines of rosewood with marquetry and parquetry inlays, French curio cabinets, provincial benches, French couches, canapés’, chaise lounges and other seating pieces, ornately carved French consoles, gilded French entrance mirrors and consoles, marble pedestals and stands, wooden pedestals, French bronze pedestals, and many other pieces of classic French furniture.
Egyptian carpenters and cabinet makers were excellent craftsmen in their own right even prior to Napoleon’s invasion. They were quick to learn and easily influenced by the French designers especially in the art of marquetry and parquetry inlays, which were executed with extraordinary smoothness and finish. Ormolu mounts of gilded bronze, which were a leading characteristic of most of the French furniture pieces of the 18th and early 19th century, were finished with an attention to detail and a minute delicacy of touch. Egyptian carpenters and cabinetmakers also became adept professionals in gilding French furniture in many colors such as rose, silvery green and gray blues and in strict symmetry and ornamentation.
Furniture making was and still is a well respected craft in Egypt and skilled artisans are highly regarded. It is and has been typical for a respected Egyptian furniture maker to pass along his knowledge and expertise to his sons and those sons to pass it along to their sons and thus it has been for generations. Egyptian furniture makers today display some particularly advanced techniques in their craft. Not only are these modern day artisans skilled woodworkers, but their ability working with metals such as brass and bronze especially in French furniture reproductions shows an incredible skill which would be difficult to match anywhere in the world today.
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