Tutankhamen’s return to London has sparked a renewed fascination with the boy king and his age-old civilisation. Several designs in Haddonstone’s collection have been influenced by ancient Egypt.

The Leazes Park Lions are thought to be inspired by The Red Granite Lion of Amenhotep III. It was one of a pair originally created around 1370BC to guard the Temple of Soleb, in Sudan. The lions were owned by a succession of rulers after Amenhotep III, including Tutankhamen (1336-1327 BC).1 Haddonstone’s versions were created for Leazes Park in Newcastle, and are now part of the standard collection.

Both Grecian and Egyptian Sphinxes feature the body of a lion, with the Grecian version (pictured) depicting an elegant female head and bosom, in contrast to the male head of the Egyptian style. Both were popular in the late Georgian period. Haddonstone has faithfully replicated an original design created by Coade Stone.

Egyptian in origin, obelisks were first brought to Rome before becoming a decorative feature in the English landscape from the XVIII century onwards.

The European fascination with Egypt began with Napoleon Bonaparte’s Egyptian Campaign in 1798. Although the campaign was a military failure, the scholars who accompanied the soldiers suddenly discovered the rich history of a forgotten, but important civilisation. The results of their comprehensive investigation of the country – both past and present - eventually became Description de l’Egypte, which spanned ten volumes when it was eventually published in 1830. The work became popular throughout Europe and Egyptology was born.2

See Haddonstone’s full collection – including many pieces inspired by cultural and historical figures and events - in the inspirational 200-page catalogue, on CD-ROM or visit haddonstone.co.uk

Ends / 274 words

Notes to editors:
1 http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aes/r/red_granite_lion.aspx
2 Description de l’Egypte, originally published 1830, this edition 2002, Taschen, Cologne, p12

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01604 772037
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