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The Gayer-Anderson Museum is an art museum located in Cairo, Egypt. This museum is next to the Mosque of Ahmad ibn Tulun and is named after Major R.G. Gayer-Anderson Pasha, who lived in the house between 1935 and 1942 with special permission from the Egyptian Government. This museum is a great example of 17th-century domestic architecture and has a wonderful collection of furniture, carpets, curios and other antiquities that fascinate you! So come on down and explore all that this museum has to offer!
This guide will explain the architecture of the Gayer-Anderson Museum. It will also attempt to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about visiting the site, such as: What is the best time to visit? What are the entrance fees? Tips for Visiting? - and more.
The Gayer-Anderson Museum is a must-see for tourists in Cairo. This beautiful building was once two separate residences, and it now houses an impressive collection of artefacts from Ancient Egypt, the Islamic world, and China.
The Museum is named after its previous occupants, Major Ronald Gayer-Anderson and Colonel Sir Robert Anderson.
The Gayer-Anderson Museum is located in the heart of Historic Cairo, and it's easy to see why it's a popular tourist attraction in the city.
The building combines Islamic and European architecture, and it's been beautifully preserved. The exterior of the Museum is adorned with intricate carvings and decorations, and the interior is just as stunning. Visitors will love exploring the two courtyards, each with a unique atmosphere.
The Gayer-Anderson Museum is home to various artefacts from Ancient Egypt, the Islamic world, and China.
The Egyptian collection includes statues, jewellery, and even mummies! The Islamic collection features weapons, ceramics, and antique textiles from around the Muslim world. And the Chinese collection contains porcelain vases, paintings, and scrolls. There's something for everyone at this Museum!
The Gayer-Anderson Museum was built in 1632 and 1540 as two houses combined into one building. The building was then purchased by Major R.G. Gayer-Anderson Pasha in 1935, and he was given special permission from the Egyptian Government to live there until 1942. While living there, he collected many artefacts from around Egypt, now housed in the museum, including furniture, carpets, curios and other objects.
The Gayer-Anderson Museum is a great example of 17th-century domestic architecture with its beautiful courtyards and gardens and intricate designs on its walls and ceilings. It also has a great collection of artefacts from all over Egypt, including furniture, carpets, curios and other objects, which will fascinate you!
In addition to this collection, there are many interactive exhibits, such as workshops where visitors can learn about traditional crafts such as woodworking or weaving or participate in lectures about Egyptian history or culture.
Visiting the Gayer-Anderson Museum is a great way to learn about Egypt's history and culture while admiring some beautiful architecture from centuries ago! Not only will you get to explore some amazing artefacts from all over Egypt, but you will also get to participate in interactive activities such as workshops or lectures, making your visit even more enjoyable! So come on down and explore what this museum has to offer!
John Gayer-Anderson, a British major and army doctor who oversaw the Museum's restoration, gave it its name. This unique Museum consists of two houses.
The corner of the Ibn Tulun Mosque exterior wall is the location of the two houses that comprise the Museum. The larger home was built in 1632 by Hajj Mohammad ibn al-Hajj Salem ibn Galman al-Gazzar and is situated to the east (the farthest side from the mosque). A wealthy Muslim woman from Crete later owned it, and the residence became known as Beit al-Kritliyya, or "House of the Cretan Woman."
The second house to the west, the closest side to the mosque, was built in 1540 by Abdel-Qader al-Haddad. Later, it adopted the name "Beit Amna bint Salim" in honour of its previous owner.
The Gayer Anderson Museum is the name given to the structure today because Gayer Anderson, a British army doctor of the Egyptian government, was permitted to live there in 1935. Dr Gayer Anderson first visited Egypt in 1906 as a member of the British Royal Army Medical Corps, where he fell in love with the people and culture.
Travellers who appreciate pop culture trivia will recognize the Gayer-Anderson Museum as a filming location for the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.
A retired collector and self-described Orientalist named Major Gayer-Anderson was permitted to live in the newly renovated house in 1935. Gayer-Anderson oversaw plumbing and power installation.
And the restoration of other interior home features like pavement, fountains, and other elements.
He filled the structure with his collection of paintings, furniture, and carpets. He also built a sailing boat to gather these artefacts from all over Egypt; it was docked on the Nile near the gayer Anderson house. When Gayer-Anderson's health forced him to leave Egypt in 1942, he gave the Egyptian government the home's contents. In return, King Farouk bestowed upon him the title of Pasha. In 1945, Gayer-Anderson died in England and was buried in Lavenham, Suffolk.
The Museum is noted for being one of the examples of 17th-century domestic architecture left in Cairo and its collection of furniture, carpets, curio, and other objects.
The Gayer-Anderson Museum is a great place to learn about the history and culture of Egypt. There are a variety of activities available for visitors to the Museum.
The Haramlik, or family residence, and the Salamlik, also called the guest house, make up each half of the house.
The home has five main entrances: two doors of honour, a gerbil, a garden entrance, and a door for ladies.
This side of the house was only accessible to the master and other family members like the wives and kids. Also permitted were close friends.
The courtyard flooring is made of an impressive amount of marble, and the Haramlik's windows open up to provide a fantastic view. The courtyard also has a stairway that leads up to the Haramlik. Among the other notable objects in the courtyard is the Bats' Well, which is also fifteen meters deep and known as Bier el-watawit.
The Maq'ad is a reception room, which in this case, is open-air. Brass bowls date back to some time between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries. Another common feature in Mamluk houses was the "Durkah", a pathway from one door to another. It is where guests would put their shoes before reaching a divan.
The Maq'ad was an important place for social gatherings and often held feasts and celebrations. In colder months, the Maq'ad would be heated by a "horse", a type of stove, which would be placed in the centre of the room.
The Mamluks were known for their hospitality, and often guests stayed in their homes for extended periods. The Maq'ad was a key part of this tradition and helped to create a warm and welcoming environment for guests.
The Haramlik is the principal apartment in the Maq'ad, where the Durkah is located. The Durkan is a part of the "holy carpet" known as the Kiswa and is made of green silk. It was a gift given by Lewa Yehia Pasha.
The Haramlik also has marble tables, fruits, flowers, and drinks. This room is used for special occasions, such as when dignitaries visit.
Anderson Pasha, the designer of these dresses, modelled them after Turkish examples. He designed many pieces for the English Court and was explicitly known as an expert on Eastern furniture designs, which he uses in his work here at home!
Coffee was made in the Khazna, situated between the apartments for men and women. These days, miniature Persian paintings are displayed on them.
This is a vast room and is supported by four columns. Also, there are windows on all four sides of the room.
There are some Persian cupboards from a palace in Teheran, and each cabinet holds a different collection. The first cupboard has a collection of porcelain vases. The second cupboard has a collection of silverware. The third cupboard has a collection of jewelled goblets, and the fourth has a group of miniature elephants. Each collection is extraordinary, and the room is filled with the most beautiful things one could imagine.
It is truly a remarkable sight.
It is located above the magic well and serves as a place to try and hide people or things breaking the law or attempting to escape.
Stairways were not a familiar feature in Islamic architecture. They were only used in houses. A series of Persian Kashan, also known as velvet prayer hangings, are hung on the main stair walls.
These luxurious hangings were precious commodities often gifted to important figures such as rulers or sultans. The fabric of these hangings is highly delicate and requires careful handling. In addition, the colours and patterns on the hangings are incredibly intricate and beautiful. Much time and effort went into their creation.
You feel transported to another time and place as soon as you enter the Reading Room. The small room is cosy and inviting, with a window seat on the museum grounds. The shelves are lined with books, and the walls are decorated with Chinese Flower paintings on rice paper.
It's the perfect place to curl up with a good book and spend a lazy afternoon.
The Writing Room is another favourite room in the Museum. It now serves as an office for the Museum's curator, but it also serves as a study room. You can imagine spending hours here, researching your next travel destination. The room is furnished with long tables and benches, and the walls are covered with pictures and ancient examples of Egyptian drawings and writings. It's a fascinating place to explore, and you always find something new to discover every time you visit.
The Bayt al-Kritliyya in Cairo has a unique feature - its flat roof has been turned into a roof garden, enclosed with mashrabias. These designs are of Coptic origin and reflect Christian symbols such as the cross. This is considered rare since the only other examples of Christian mashrabias are found in the Coptic Museum and some ancient houses in Old Cairo. The use of mashrabias in this way not only provides a beautiful and tranquil space for people to enjoy but also helps to preserve an essential part of Cairo's heritage.
Except for the bed and an imitation Egyptian couch with bulls feet, all the items in this room date from the later Persian or Shah Abbas era.
The bridge linking the Haramlik to the Salamlik is a beautiful and peaceful place in the house. It is where one can go alone with their thoughts or read a book. The bridge is also a place where religious objects are kept.
The house has few Christian objects, but they are nonetheless beautiful. The bridge is a place of peace and tranquillity, and it is also a place of great beauty.
The Gayer-Anderson Museum is housed in a building once the home of an Egyptian diplomat named Gayer-Anderson Pasha. The Museum contains several interesting artefacts, including an engraved ostrich egg that depicts a map of Egypt and a black and gold mummy case from the eighteenth century BC. One of the most unusual objects on display is a bronze Ancient Egyptian cat with gold earrings. This curious artefact provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the people who once inhabited this corner of the world.
The Ottoman apartment is a stunning example of Rococo architecture and design. The walls are decorated with green and gold tapestries, and the furniture is from the Rococo period. The throne chair is particularly notable, dating back to one of the earliest Khedives. The singing bird is also noteworthy, as the founder's brother brought it to the apartment. The bird is a Harem toy from Istanbul, a fascinating piece of history. This room is truly a masterpiece and an honour to view.
This late seventeenth-century room was built by the Committee for the Preservation of Arab Monuments in 1937 and brought over from Damascus by Gayer-Anderson Pasha.
It's a beautifully designed room entirely made out of wood. Three sides have three large windows, and on the fourth side are cupboard doors. The ceiling is covered with a poem praising the Prophet, and other notable objects in the room include a collection of different coloured and designed candlesticks spread out around the room.
It's a stunning display of Arabic culture and heritage.
You can take a taxi, bus, or private car to get there. The Museum is located in the Islamic Cairo district, near the Mosque of Ibn Tulun.
If you are taking a taxi, tell the driver to take you to the Gayer-Anderson Museum. The fare should be around 30 EGP. If you are taking the bus, take the #1 or #2 from Tahrir Square. The fare is 2.50 EGP. If you are driving, a parking lot is next to the Museum.
The Gayer-Anderson Museum is open every day from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is 60 EGP for adults and 30 EGP for students.
Overall, tourists will love visiting The Gayer-Anderson Museum because it has something for everyone - from its impressive collection of artefacts to its stunning architecture, educational programs, and nearby shops - making it a must-see destination when visiting Cairo!
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