not anything more than that?!!
let me give you an example...
I picked up an old etched glass vase because of a fascinating little etching of a building on one side. After some research online I found four other etchings which resembled that building. They were not exactly the same, but what they all showed in common was two towers, one shorter than the other with a sort of bridge connecting them. Perhaps it is my architectural education, or just having an open mind but without too much effort I believe that I have identified that building.
Now, if I am correct, this is just not some little fashionable motif , it is a window into the quite rich architectural history of Prague itself.
so you say , some inspired artist just did a sketch on a glass and some others copied it.
but what if I tell you that "the lesser town bridge towers" , depicted in paintings by prominent artists as well, was the gate to the old town of lesser located in modern day Prague. with further studies, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this might be the location of the studio which produced that same motif.
so? One has to know a little about Prague to understand that a city of such grandeur doesn't just happen by chance . It clearly denotes a huge sense of civic pride forever cemented into its architecture.
So If that little scratchy building means Prague itself, isn't that interesting? Could a comparison of similar motifs tell us things about the times, and also serve as a better method to date a piece?
Anyway, yes an Egyptian revival movement might very well be the inspiration for the "palm trees" But there have been more than one in the history of the decorative arts. and...I've been to egypt more than once, and I can tell you surely that it isn't known for its palm trees.
I'm not even sure if they are palm trees, as my example doesn't look palmy at all.