A REGENCY PARCEL-GILT AND TURQUOISE-PAINTED CANED DAYBED

This exotic daybed, fashioned after an Egyptian river boat and resting on crocodile feet, reflects the fashion for ancient Egyptian motifs in Regency England, inspired by the archaeological discoveries made during Napoleon's military campaigns of 1798. These monuments were recorded by Baron Vivan Denon in his Voyage dans la Basse et la Haute Egypte, and published in London in 1802. Given that Napoleon hoped to reflect his own glory in ancient Egypt's grandeur, the Egyptian style in England became a patriotic symbol of his defeat by Nelson at battles in Egypt (1798) and Trafalgar (1805). The style particularly resonated among patrons such as the Prince of Wales and his immediate circle.

A similar daybed was acquired for the Prince Regent's Royal Pavilion at Brighton to honour Director Clifford Musgrave; it is displayed in the Saloon and illustrated in their Guidebook (also illustrated in E.T. Joy, English Furniture 1800-1851, London, 1977, p. 92). A caned daybed of the same design is illustrated in R. Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, rev. ed., 1954, vol. II, p. 145, fig. 25.