Souvenir Shopping in Egypt
Buying Egyptian Souvenirs, Carpets, Alabaster, Papyrus, and Jewelry
Feb 15, 2009
Egyptian markets are cornucopias of the colorful and warehouses of the wonderous. Thousands of souvenirs sell for bargain prices; some, such as fine carpets and precious jewelry, are at the high-end of the souvenir spectrum.
Negotiating in Egypt is always appropriate: At hotels, cruise ships, and museums, prices may be somewhat fixed; ask for a discount, anyway. The same goes for "factories" where locally-produced goods like carpets, papyrus, and alabaster vases are made; these workshops have less flexible prices than the souks, but discounts are usually available. Market stalls in tourist areas such as the Khan El-Khalili Market in Cario are a free-for-all, with a wide assortment of products of varying quality and provenance.
Egyptian Handmade Silk and Wool Carpets
Hand-made rugs are a cottage industry in Saqqara, the town near the famous step-pyramid of the same name. (It's the oldest stone building in the world, along with the site of Egypt’s most recent important archaeological finds). At the carpet-making schools of Saqqara, children spend part of their school-day learning and practicing the time-honored skill, which can lead to adult employment.
Hand-made Egyptian carpets come in three styles: Silk knotted rugs, wool knotted rugs (a mixture of wool and camel hair), and kilims, which are woven on a loom, not knotted. Tourists can visit the "factories" (really workshops, each with several looms and a well-lit sales room). Prices are somewhat fixed, but ask for a "discount". Credit cards are accepted, and shipping to the United States is included. Prices range from $50 or so for a small student-made wool rug suitable as a small wall hanging to thousands of dollars for full-sized silk masterpieces.
Papyrus Paintings Showing Egyptian Heiroglyphs
Papyrus is the traditional symbol of Lower Egypt (which is, confusingly to westerners, the northern part of Egypt, because the Nile runs from South to North). The world's earliest paper, the papyrus plant is soaked in water, then pounded into fibers. The process is demonstrated in papyrus workshops. Paintings on papyrus are most often prints, not actual original paintings, and in the souks, they may be on imitation papyrus. Shoppers are more assured of getting the real thing in the so-called "papyrus museums" or "factories." Prices range from $5 American on up to $100 or more depending on size. An average print about 12 x 15 might run about $30 U.S.
Alabaster Vases and Carvings from Luxor
Alabaster "factories" are ubiquitous around Luxor. Like the carpet factories, these family stalls are more like workshops than actual factories. Visitors can watch alabaster being turned from a hunk of heavy stone to glass-like vases so fine that light shines through them. A small handmade alabaster vase might cost around $20 or $30; a machine made one might run $5 - $10, depending on size.
Jewelry and Egyptians Cartouches
One of the most popular souvenirs is a cartouche. The idea dates to pharaonic times, when each pharaoh’s name was written in hieroglyphics inside an oval "cartouche." Today's vendors translate western names into hieroglyphics, and create handsome pendants in gold and silver. Prices can range from $25 or so for a thin silver cartouche to more than $800 for a heavy and large gold one. Visitors should be sure they trust their guides to lead them to shops where prices are reasonable. But remember that this is a big-ticket purchase, and many guides get commissions for bringing tourists to various vendors. Proceed at your own risk.
Other popular tourist items include books and post cards, which is a great way to remember the trip, beads (many made in China), scarves (expect to pay $3 - $10, depending on bargaining skills), and a range of trinkets, many peddled by children for a dollar a piece.
More Resources for Egypt travel.
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