IDEAS FOR GIFTS FROM EGYPT

Summer is upon us and most of us are planning a vacation back home. "What to take back as gifts for family and friends" is a question that I have seen friends grapple with. I have also wrested with this question when friends ask for suggestions and accompanied them on “gift-hunting” trips. The usual suspects like papyrus, tutankhamun masks, statue of Nefertiti, pyramids etc from the “Khan” have been “done to death”, but they still are popular. Here are a few pointers for those interested to gift the “unusual” from Egypt

For something unique and funky, why not gift a CD of Wust El Balad’s first music album? A book on Egyptology would make the perfect gift for a friend who has always dreamt of visiting the land of Pharoahs. The AUC bookstore has a wide selection of books on Egypt. Introduce the voracious reader in your family to Naguib Mahfouz, a highly acclaimed Egyptian writer and a Nobel laureate for literature. For the homemaker in your family or friend circle, write down some Egyptian recipes like karkade, hummus, fuul, koshari, taa’miya (falafel), baba ghanoug etc-this wins hands down as a gift with a personal touch.

A crystal piece from the Asfour Crystal Factory, a place in the suburb of Shubra is meant for the "discerning" and should be bought only when “size” of the gift is not a consideration. Whatever be your budget, you are sure to find something here-the smaller pieces being budget-friendly as well as easy to carry.

Egyptian cotton is very famous. You could consider gifting bed sheets made from the finest cotton, found at the Salon Au Vert in downtown.. Mobaco has a fine range of men’s shirts and t-shirts and ladies’ tops and some of the designs are really good.

At Oriental Weavers, you can buy tapestries (wall hangings) from LE 80 onwards. Mickey Mouse for the children, Tutankhamun for the history buff –you can find something for everyone here. For an exclusive gift head to Wissa Wassef (see blog entry dated March 12, 2008) – the tapestries would enhance any wall and the pottery is functional and unique too.

The various "ittar" fragrances filled in attractive and colourful bottles make a thoughtful gift. Choose a lovely silver pendant, some colourful beads to go with it and have them strung to form a unique neckpiece for the fashionable among your friends and family.

With a little bit of effort and imagination, you can take back the “perfect gift” from Egypt.

Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre

Last Saturday, we spent a very “artistic” time at the Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre.

The Wissa Wassef Art centre on the Saqquara-Harrania highway is a centre for weaving, batik and ceramics. It is a place where creativity is given a free rein and individuality and uniqueness encouraged. The weavers here do not work from any pattern or design – the design is “in their head” and therefore no two tapestries at the centre can be the same. A welcome diversion from the prevalent norm of mass production and imitation.

The centre was started in 1951 by Ramses Wissa Wassef, an architect and designer as an “experiment in creativity” with around 12 children weavers. To read more about Ramses Wissa Wassef, follow the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramses_Wissa_Wassef

On our visit to the centre, we were able to watch the weavers at work-it was a joy watching them weave magic with their nimble fingers. Depending on the intricacies of the design and the size, a tapestry can take upto one month to finish. In fact, a tapestry on display had taken a year to complete; it was not up for sale though. Only passion for the craft and abundant patience can lead to such beautiful pieces of art. The weavers are paid daily while they are working on a tapestry and a lumpsum when they have finished a piece. Their earnings are not contingent on their piece being sold; also they are freed from the hassle of “marketing” their craft since the centre takes care of this aspect. The Wissa Wassef centre regularly participates in overseas exhibitions and fairs and has participated in more than 120 exhibitions to date.

The pottery and ceramics division was added by Susan Wissa Wassef, daughter of Ramses Wissa Wassef and all the pieces on sale at the centre are designed by her. Some of the shapes are really interesting and the pieces utilitarian. We picked up a couple of pottery pieces and will definitely be returning to buy a tapestry. The tapestries and the pottery on sale at the centre are by no means easy on the pocket. But once you have actually seen the weavers and potters at work, it is easier to appreciate the high prices. Beautiful cusion covers and tablecloths in batik work are also available at the centre.

In case you are planning to visit the centre, it might be a good idea to call ahead and ensure that the weavers and the potters will be at work when you get there. You can get more information from the center’s website http://www.wissa-wassef-arts.com/intro.htm