Chanel Metiers D’Art Pre-Fall 2019 Collection
Inspired by Cleopatra, Pharaohs and the hieroglyphics of Ancient Egypt, designer Karl Lagerfeld wove his magic alongside Goossens and Desrue jewellery to create extraordinary gems.
For this Métiers d’Art show, he chose to show his work at the Met’s Temple of Dendur, an Ancient Egyptian place of worship dating to 10 B.C.—after all, what’s grander than a 2000-year-old historical marvel?
More broadly – and of interest to Lagerfeld – when Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, the Egyptomania that followed was nothing if not influential over the Art Deco elements of the Manhattan skyline.
The result is a collection that focuses on intricate embroideries and shimmering metallics. Accessories made various nods to Ancient Egyptian art, including scarab earrings and Usekh collars.
“Egyptian civilization has always fascinated me,” said Lagerfeld. For a designer who made a name out of honouring, reimagining, and modernizing the past, it made sense that he would draw inspiration from an ancient civilization that has captivated so many artists—he was a master of making old new again.