Farouk of Egypt

===Style and personality===

The ostentatious king's name is used to describe imitation [[Louis Quinze|Louis XV-style furniture]] known as "Louis-Farouk".<ref>{{cite web|title = King Farouk's Massive, $1M Mercury-Gilded Mahogany Bedroom Set Rivals Louis XV's|url = http://www.artfixdaily.com/artwire/release/9002-king-farouks-massive-1m-mercury-gilded-mahogany-bedroom-set-rival|website = ArtfixDaily|access-date = 24 November 2015}}</ref> The imperial French style furniture became fashionable among Egypt's upper classes during Farouk's reign so Egyptian artisans began to mass-produce it. The style uses ornate carving, is heavily gilded, and is covered in elaborate cloth.<ref>Burke, C: ''Lee Miller, a life'', p. 151. University of Chicago Press, 2005</ref> The style, or imitations thereof, remains widespread in Egypt. The originals such as Aubusson and Gobelin came directly from France and are not copied in Egypt.

Farouk's eccentricities were exaggerated by later accounts. One apocryphal story tells how Farouk suffered from nightmares in which he was chased by a lion. He sought the advice of pro-Axis rector [[Mustafa al-Maraghi]], who told him, "You will not rest until you have shot a lion." Thereupon, Farouk shot two, at the Cairo zoo.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barrie St. Clair McBride |title=Farouk of Egypt, a Biography |date=1967 |publisher=Hale |page=114 }}</ref>