Day
16 - Mr Lovly's Monaliza Factory Alabaster and Granite Factory of Hassen Mohamed Sheemy
Today Mubarak is coming to town, and the security was heavy. The food at the hotel was more elaborate, though, maybe because there were more Army people in the hotel.
Anyway we got to the West bank with no trouble and visited an old friend, Mr. Lovly at the Monaliza Factory Alabaster. He was not at the shop when we arrived and he was called away from a funeral of one of his nephews. How sad. Mr Lovly is the dealer who sold me the carved alabaster piece in 2008.
On the last trip, I told him that the airlines were making the weight a big issue for luggage. This time he had some lovely small pieces in alabaster.
Shopping in Egypt - Monaliza Factory Alabaster - Luxor |
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Where: Monaliza Factory Alabaster - Elqurna Luxor Westbank
Who: Mr. Lovly, Mohamed Metawea Mohamed.
Contact: Mobile Phone in Egypt - 0182676313 or 0103930384
Vendor Story: Visited the alabaster workshop of Mr Lovly, Mohamed Metawea Mohamed. The New Monaliza Factory Alabaster. He has many things but a special attraction are tomb scenes carved in Alabaster. He has begun to have smaller alabaster carvings that are easier to transport. He is a master carver himself and designs and makes many of the pieces. His family has been producing the finest carved objects for many years in el Gurna. Stop by his shop just to have a look at the unique desk and client bench that he has made to look like they are growing out of a tree.
Souvenirs: Ushabti made by Mr Lovly's grandfather, and three of the small alabaster plaques. Great gift for friends. |
The Carved Alabaster Desk at Mr Lovly's Alabaster Factory
The Monaliza Factory Alabaster is a founding member of the Egypt Holiday Travel Cooperative and you can see more details of his shop.
Ushabti and faience statue of Ramesses II from Monaliza Factory of Alabaster
Made in Egypt - Granite Sculpture by Hassen Mohamed Sheemy |
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Where: el Gourna - el Taref
Who: Granite Sculptor Hassen Mohamed Sheemy.
Contact: Contact through Hossam Rashwan
Vendor Story: The granite factory of Hasssan Mohamed Abdel Basset Sheemy in el Gourna - el Taref creates granite statues of any size and perhaps even small obelisks.
He was currently working on the last stages of a 4 foot high granite statue that has taken 2 years to finish. He had many examples of other sizes, including a mysteriously wrapped large statue for one of the local parks. Hassen Sheemy began drawing at the knee of his father who was a tomb guard. He now specializes in all things granite and can create portrait statues in any style and period to order. He has had many large civic commisions. And has worked in major workshops in Aswan, Alexandria, the Khan el Kahlili Cairo before returning to Luxor to open his own workshop.
Souvenirs: Alas everything was too big to carry away, but anyone interested in decorative art to be shipped to them, should contact him. |
Granite Statue of Hasssan Mohamed Abdel Basset Sheemy
We visited the Granite Factory of Hassen Mohamed Sheemy. He is a young man who does big and small statues in stone. He works in all stones and mostly does Egyptian style, but can do portait statues in any style. He specializes in monuments for city squares and in statues used to decorate interiors of restaurants and other public buildings.
As we left we saw a a large rough carved statue lying on the ground, it was almost 3 metres tall!
He says that these works sometimes take a year or two and I can believe it. This is truely the craft of the pharaohs still being practiced in Egypt.
We had lunch at the Hapy Habu Hotel which is right across from Medinet Habu. I have eaten here several times and can recommend the food highly. The view from the veranda is unparalled and the restroom is clean and well stocked, what more can a girl want!
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