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A new boom in ancient art keeps modern Egypt busy
August 31, 1997
Web posted at: 10:24 p.m. EDT (0224 GMT)CAIRO, Egypt (CNN) -- One of his orders is for a man wants to sleep in a duplicate of King Tut's bed. Another is a hotelier who wants an ancient Egyptian cow-god to adorn a Las Vegas property.
King Tut, or Tutankhamun, has sprung into modern fashion. And the strong demand for newly created pieces of art that the ancient emperor might had around the palace has made Cairo artist and entrepreneur Mahmoud Mabrouk a successful man.
Mabrouk's business began eight years ago with only two employees. Today, his Pharaonic factory employs more than 100 artisans and exports replicas of Tutankhamun and other figures to most corners of the world.
The new surge in interest in Egypt's ancient art began with the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, says exporter Hassan Ragab. Those rich and intricate designs inspired art lovers around the world, and local artists were soon busy meeting the new demand.
Owners say the art gives them a chance to mingle with the past, and imagine themselves stepping characters from the dusty shelves of ancient history.
Mabrouk's output ranges from painstaking replications for serious collectors to gaudy kitsch. One casino in Tunisia has ordered a piece to enshrine Queen Cleopatra and her lover Mark Antony.
The last of the Pharaonic dynasties may have ended over 2,000 years ago -- but modern Cairo entrepreneurs say the boom in Pharaonic art has only just begun.
CNN Correspondent James Martone contributed to this report
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