The Western world became fascinated with Ancient Egyptian culture during Napoleon's Egyptian campaign, 1798-1801. By the late 1800s, archaeological finds - sarcophagi, mummies, hieroglyphics - were making news all over Europe, and Egyptian design motifs made their way into Western art, fashion, and architecture. These c. 1890 English earrings are fashioned in gold with semi-iridescent (real!) scarab beetles.