Through their art, he was able to have the upper hand in some political gains. As usual, the exceptional Egyptian artisans excelled in their products and were even used by Ali as part of his soft power diplomacy with the Ottoman Empire. He brought experts from abroad to teach Egyptian craftspersons the latest methods and techniques and simultaneously he sent many Egyptians to study in crafts schools abroad and bring back their new expertise in art and styles. Interestingly enough he paid special attention to the different crafts and trades. He had great ambitions and started the development of various fields. Mohamed Ali, the founder of modern Egypt, established the Alawiyya royal dynasty which ruled Egypt and the Sudan for nearly two centuries (1805-1952). Stripping its masterpieces and artefacts to take back to his homeland, he also forced all its master artisans and highly skilled craftspersons to be shipped out to his capital Istanbul, in an attempt to transform it to another fascinating city. It took Egypt years and years to recover from such a grave loss. When the Ottoman Sultan Selim the first invaded Egypt 1517, he was awed by the charm and glamour of Cairo. Through the years, Egyptian artisans excelled in their authentic works, turning the city of Cairo (Al Qahera) into a dazzling gem. This includes the Fatimid era, with all the variety of its crafts, up to the Mamluk era with its glorious crafts, through to the Umayyad, Abbasid, Ayyubid dynasties. That was considered a sign of extreme culture, affluence and an extravagant accessory.Įgyptian dynasties were rich in all forms of art, literature, architecture and crafts. Every ruler desired this precious work of art to embellish and add immeasurable value to any monument or archaeological construction bearing his name. Niello artefacts were highly valued as masterpieces and rare treasures. No wonder they call it “a craft for sultans and kings”! No doubt this is one of the most complicated, time-consuming, refined, and delicate crafts. The first step is drawing the ornaments on the object, to be etched later, then with a tiny hammer and drift pin, engraving the design with meticulous strokes, in an accurate and precise manner, for this is where the silver string will be inlaid. The hammer is then applied, this time right on the string. The object could be a tray, pot, chandelier, lantern, jug, basin, or figurines.
Niello, or as it is called in Egypt Al Takfeet, is the craft of brass, copper, gold, silver and lead, used as an inlay on engraved or etched metal. However, it was the Islamic civilisation that was responsible for its remarkable comeback. In later years it emerged in other regions such as the Mediterranean basin and parts of Asia and Europe. This unique craft is deeply rooted in Egypt’s heritage: some examples were found in the tombs of ancient Egyptian queens. Hussain Abdel Maqsoud Mohamed, a master artisan, spent more than 61 years in the hammering craft of Niello, an art which consists of many techniques and embraces different styles.Īs I dug deep into the origins of niello before meeting Hussian, I discovered plenty of leads. The huge wooden door was covered with copper and inlaid with silver.” “In the 1960s, I was almost 16, when I first assisted my father in working on the door of the Agakhan’s mausoleum in Aswan.
“I was taught by my father, my father was taught by my grandpa, my grandpa was taught by my great-grandpa and as the older son, I taught my brothers, my cousin and my four sons. He met my concern for one of our authentic crafts with a wide smile on his face. Hussain, niello master artisan, welcomed me in his new workshop located near the banks of the Nile in Maadi, Cairo. It was the early informal education conducted by a scholar teaching mainly the Qur’an as well as reading, writing, reciting, grammar & basic mathematics) “I used to run to my father’s workshop next to the Metwally gate or the Zuweilla Gate (two names for one of three remaining gates in the walls of the Old City of Cairo) once I was done with my studies at the Kuttab ( a primitive single classroom school, found in every neighbourhood and every village.
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With eyes full of pride, he recollected the precious memories of his childhood. “Do you know the Metwaly Gate?” With this question, Hussain started his stroll down memory lane, surrounded by two of his four sons and a ten-year-old grandson. On the banks of the Nile, Passent Nossair finds the source of a quintessential Egyptian craft. Search for: Egypt reclaims niello: A craft for kings and sultans
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