Gezira Art Museum
El Tahrer, Cairo, Egypt
About
The Gezira Art Museum is regionally distinguished for its 4,288-piece collection of items and exhibits which were confiscated from royal palaces. For instance, the Museum has a big collection of Bohemian gilt glassware in the eastern style, enamelled glassware in the Islamic style dating back to the 11th and 18th centuries in Egypt, and a collection of Roman and French glassware copying the Islamic design. The Museum also distinguishes itself in the Middle East by exhibiting a variety of ceramics (Islamic, Egyptian, Persian, Damascus and Bukhary). In addition, there is a no less fascinating collection of ceramics produced by Graeco-Roman, Russian and Turkish artisans. The Museum's exhibits also include a collection of China porcelain made in different ages. On the other hand, the Gezira Museum has a big collection of tapestry and batiks woven by Coptic artisans in the 5th, 6th and 7th centuries. The invaluable exhibits also include Islamic tapestries and Persian carpets made by skilled weavers in Isfahan, Kharasan and Samarkand. There is also an 18th century Belgian Gobelin tapestry and 19th century French tapestry. The Mamluk crafts are represented by beautiful chandeliers, incense-burners and trays made in Egypt, Mosul in Iraq and China. European icons of painting and sculpture such as Renoir, Rodin, Delacroix, Monet, Degas and Rubens, are represented in the Geizra Museum, which is situated inside al-Nasr Saray in Gezira Ground (presently the Cairo Opera House). The museum, which was built in 1936, was first opened in 1957. The adjacent Museum of Egyptian Civilization contains displays chronicling Egyptian history from ancient to modern times. Gezira Art Museum Next to Cairo Opera House El Gezira Tel: (+202) 2806982
