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Papyrus paper is one of the most important and beautiful souvenirs that all tourists like to buy during their visit to Egypt for its unique designs and material as well as its historical roots. Shimosshops.com gives you a chance to get one of this unique souvenir, here you can get a papyrus paper in a high quality of both material and the art itself.

Here we will provide you with some information about papyri which will give you a chance to know more about it:

The material of the papyrus papers is much more lasting than ordinary types of papers, as we found hundreds of these papyrus papers date back to ancient times, so the papyrus paper itself will not only outlast the purchaser, but probably his future family line, but if you want to protect the colors of the painting on these papyrus papers from fading throughout time you should frame and place it behind the good quality glass.

Concerning the size of the papyrus papers; all sizes of papyrus paintings are available as the papyrus stalks grow as large as about four to five meters in height so the workers cut the papyrus stalk to the length they wish for the sheet that will be produced, and they put many strips side by side in order to produce the desired width, as some artists prefer to work with larger papyri sheets to draw all details of the original artwork that was found on the walls of tombs and temples.

Quality depended on different factors such as the place in which the papyrus plants were grown, the age of the plants, the season of the harvest, and the layer of pith used in manufacture. The finest papyrus was made using the innermost pith layers and was said to have come from the Delta region.

The name “Papyrus” is a Greek word which may derived from the Egyptian word “papuro” (also given as pa-per-aa), this word means ‘the royal’ or ‘that of the pharaoh’. The papyrus plant was called by the ancient Egyptians as djet or tjufi or wadj, which are forms of the concept of freshness. Once papyrus was cut, harvested, and processed into rolls, it was called djema which may mean ‘clean’ or ‘open’ in reference to the fresh writing surface.

The Papyrus plant was harvested from the beginning of the Pre-dynastic Period in Egypt (c. 6000-c.3150 BCE) and continued to be throughout Egypt’s history down to the Ptolemaic Dynasty (323-30 BCE) and into Roman Egypt (30 BCE – c. 640 CE), but the earliest surviving example is a blank papyrus roll found in the tomb of Hemaka, an official of the 1st Dynasty (2925-2775 BC) at Saqqara.

During ancient Egypt papyrus was closely associated with writing in general, and it was actually mostly used for religious, literary, medical and government texts as well as record-keeping, magical treatises, and literature because its manufacturing costs were fairly expensive, as it needs manual labor in the fields and marshes, and it also took skilled workers to methodically beat and process the plant without destroying it. Also; the Egyptian scribe spent many years practicing writing on potsherds, chunks of stone, and pieces of wood before using the papyrus rolls.

The text of a papyrus was written by a scribe in black and red ink. The black ink contains a carbon-based pigment, made either from incinerated vegetable material or from soot. The red ink tends to be either anhydrous oxide of iron or hydrated oxide of iron. The painter’s palette which was used for painting contained different colors, such as white, made from calcium carbonate or calcium sulfate; blue, a copper silicate which is the earliest synthetic pigment, called Egyptian blue; green from another silicate called green frit, or copper chloride–based green pigment; yellow, either yellow ocher or orpiment; red, occasionally a more orange-red pigment called realgar in addition to the iron-oxide or ocher reds; and various iron-oxide or ocher browns. The brush which was used by the ancient Egyptian painter made of a rush with its tip chewed to separate it into fibers.

The papyrus plant was also used in different fields during the ancient Egyptian history such as a food source in which the plant could be baked and eaten, and the papyrus root was cut and prepared in different dishes. Papyrus was also used in making the earliest Egyptian skiffs which were made by tightly weaving stalks of papyrus and binding them with rope. Papyrus rope and papyrus fiber were also used for different purposes as they were quite strong. Sandals were made by coiling the papyrus and were so sturdy that many examples of them have been found thousands of years after they were made still in good condition. Papyrus sandals required a great deal of skill to make and were too expensive so that they were used by wealthy people. Dolls or other toy figures were made by bunching up the stalks and then shaping them through tightly tied fibers to create a head, arms, and legs. We cannot forget other fields of using papyrus plant such as making mattresses on beds, chairs, tables, and other furniture as well as for mats, baskets, boxes, and utensils.

Egyptians are famous for their jewelry throughout ages and till now; we found a great collection of jewelry date back to the ancient Egyptian history as ancient Egyptians used it for both adornment and protection. During ancient Egyptian times Jewelry was often made of gold, but somewhat later, silver was used. Besides turquoise, which was mined early on in the Sinai, other stones were also included such as lapis lazuli, and carnelian, and amethyst.

Egyptian cartouche is one of the ancient Egyptian sacred symbols which was Found on monuments and papyrus documents. Cartouches were made only for pharaohs in order to put their birth and coronation names inside it. Cartouche is a rectangular shape surrounded with a loop of rope with a knot at one end inside which the name of the king was written in hieroglyphic letters.

The ancient Egyptians used to have amulets in the shape of beetles, because beetles had a religious significance in ancient Egypt and it was related to Egyptian legends. With shimoshops you can find different sizes, shapes, colors, and materials of scarabs and you can also find some of them are engraved with the hieroglyphic alphabet, which will be a great souvenir for your beloved ones.

It is a cross with a loop at the top sometimes ornamented with symbols or decorative flourishes but most often simply a plain gold cross. Ankh is known as “the key of life” as the Egyptians believed that one’s earthly journey was only part of an eternal life, the ankh symbolizes both mortal existence and the afterlife. Ankh is dating from the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3150 – 2613 BCE). shimoshops offers you different sizes, shapes, colors, and materials of Ankh which will be a great souvenir.

We found a great number of paintings and artifacts for sandals, clothes, gloves, buckets, bottles, shrouds for burying the dead and for military equipment in Egyptian tombs which are dating back to 5000 B.C. which indicate that leather was used during that period. The using of the leather continued by the ancient Greeks, the romans and till the Islamic period in Egypt as well.

Leather has been also used for seating due to its durability and comfort during the history of transportation and furniture, as it has always been the ideal material for making saddles and tack, as well as footwear. During the middle ages, leather was also used for covering the dining chairs, because it was easy to maintain and did not absorb the odor of food.

Leather industry spread during the 18th and 19th centuries and new kinds of leathers has been created, such as belting leathers to drive machinery, the footwear with a fashionable appearance, and colorful leather.

Modern technology has allowed for innovation in the leather industry, as the development of chemicals and sophisticated processing methods have greatly expanded the aesthetics and feel of leather as well as the possible applications. Leather continues to be the material of choice, not just for commercial and residential furniture but for automotive, aviation and marine applications as well.

Shimoshops provides a great collection of Egyptian camel skin products such as socks, paintings, slippers, blankets, and carpets. This unique and original collection is one of the best souvenirs that you can ever own.

the name of Khayamiya is derived from the Arabic word khayma (خيمة), meaning (tent), which is related to the Person who is making this type of art khayyām (خیام), which means (tentmaker), as this type of decorative and colorful appliqué textile was applied to the interior of tents in order to serve a dual function of shelter and ornament.  These appliques contain three layers typical of quilts which are a heavy “back”, a background (top), and elaborate appliqué over the (top).

Original Khayamiya feature is a hand-stitched cotton appliqué over heavy cotton back which is made quickly by skilled tentmakers who are using needles and thread, and large scissors. This unique art is inherited from father to son over centuries until now, Large projects of this art can subsequently take several months to complete.

Now there are many applications of this unique original design such as cushion covers, fashion, bags, bedspreads, and wall-hangings which are all made in Egypt and shimoshops provides this unique collection on our website.

These Different applications of khyamiya are decorated by different design motifs such as Egyptian folkloric subjects, geometric patterns derived from Islamic ornaments and marble inlay patterns found in the walls and floors of Cairo’s medieval mosques, Pharaonic designs, Nubian musicians, fish and birds depictions, Calligraphic patterns based upon texts from the Qur’an, and the whirling dervishes.

Due to the expensive prices of original applications of Khyamiya there are colorful printed fabrics which are bearing similar decorative patterns of Khyamiya designs are now widely used across Egypt as temporary screens for special events such as Ramadan, festivals, weddings, and funerals instead of the original handmade Khyamiya.

Historically khyamiya was used to decorate tents across the Middle East, as they were originally made to be placed outside in dry heat and dust.

There are many Khedival examples of Khyamiya are now in different museums which are dates back to the period of Islamic Egypt. There are also references to khayamiya in photographic records and European orientalist paintings from the nineteenth century and earlier. There is archaeological evidence to suggest that textiles comparable to khayamiya have been created and used in Egypt since the Pharaonic era.

One of the most important features of Ramadan’s magical atmosphere is Fanous Ramadan (the Ramadan lantern).

The origin of the fanous Ramadan dates back to the Fatimid dynasty when the Egyptians celebrated the arrival of Caliph Moezz Eddin Allah to Cairo by lighting hundreds of lanterns. Since that time, the fanous has been one feature of the traditions that characterize the holy month of Ramadan.

Nowadays, there are different designs of famous, as it has transformed into a kitschy plastic toy, as it could be shaped like different cartoon characters with different songs and you can also find amazing traditional brass and metal designs of fanous Ramadan. Some of our metal lanterns with embossed multicolored glass panels are designed with a side door allowing a candle to be placed inside. We have also some fawanees (plural of fanous) can be lighted with a small artificial candle which are not dangerous for children and guarantee their safety.

Shimoshops offers you a great collection of handmade fanous or lanterns and traditional brass Egyptian lanterns in different designs, colors and sizes, which can be lit either by candle or electricity. Our prices depend on the size and material used to make it.

Brass is actually a mix of copper and zinc on a melting temperature of 1,005 C which increase in hardness and sharpness of the metal.

In ancient Egypt, Copper was the most common metal for everyday use. Ancient Egyptians probably used copper for the first time during the Neolithic period (6th millennium BC), and the oldest Egyptian copper artifacts, including beads and small tools, date to the early 4th millennium BC. Ancient Egyptians also used the hydrated copper carbonate as eye paint. Ores containing about 10 to 12% copper were mined and melted in the eastern desert and in the Sinai during ancient times, the exploitation of the ore seems to have begun during the third dynasty and there are traces of copper working at Buhen dating from the 4th and 5th dynasties. During the middle kingdom the ore in the Eastern Desert became available to the Egyptians and copper used as a measure for common exchange in Egypt.

Today, there is a great collection of modern brass products which take many shapes and may be produced using different techniques. This collection may be in different colors, between red and yellow, but sometimes details are made in different colors.

There are many ways of coloring copper or brass as they can be colored by heating, oxidizing or by using glass or oil colors, but inlaying is the best technique of coloring copper which is the most expensive technique in comparison with the other techniques.

Colors are limited in the inlaying technique, as this technique is only limited to four colors (yellow, silver, black and brownish red). Silver thread is used for white-silver, oxidized copper thread is used for black, and red copper thread is used to achieve a red-brownish color. The inlaid technique is more expensive because it requires longer time to design and inlay the colors more than other techniques.

The most common technique of coloring brass or copper is the oxidizing technique; especially in pictures produced on plates, and if more colors are needed some oil or glass colors can be used. Many chemicals are used in this technique, but the problem of using this technique is that the colors are not as long lasting as those products produced using the inlaying technique, as their colors loose over time and cannot be polished.

Many steps are used to make brass plates, firstly they get the brass sheets in different sizes then cutting them as the design needs. The designs are drawn on the brass sheets using special tools and other tools are used to shape the brass. Some factories use a hot tar backing to support and protect the back of the brass material as it is being hammered or chiseled to save time and energy. Then if the plate will be inlaid the colors are inlaid. After completion of this process they hammer the edges of the hardened tar very carefully until it falls off. At this time the oxidizing process begins if it will be oxidized. If it is to be inlaid the tar remains in place until the inlay has been completed. Then the tar backing is carefully removed and the object, and if inlaid, is polished, as the oxidized plates cannot be polished.

There many methods of making brass objects, as some factories use the hammering by hand method while others do it by compressing (embossing) machines. The machine work will not be deep in the object, such as a plate, but will create smooth, clear lines. The hand hammered items will have deeper lines that are not as smooth.

Shimo shops offers you fine, hand carved and oriental alabaster, as if you are not planning to go to Egypt, you can still buy whatever you want from our great alabaster collection.

There are two different types of Alabaster, including the gypsum type, which is a fine-grained, massive, translucent variety of gypsum (a hydrous calcium sulphate). The colors of the gypsum type objects range from pure white to a rich creamy white, and sometimes streaked with different shades of red, and used mainly for pure hand-made products. Another type is the “Oriental Alabaster” which is a much harder stone, refers to marble (a calcium carbonate). The color of machine alabaster objects is generally yellowish to butterscotch with white and today is only used for machine-made products.

Shimo shops offers you different sizes and shapes of fine handmade alabaster. The handmade alabaster objects are always lighter in weight, very thin, waxy feeling with a matte finish (not shiny). Handmade alabaster is almost always more expensive than the machine made alabaster.

Shimo shops also offers you different sizes and shapes of fine machine alabaster objects. The machine alabaster objects are thicker, heavier and highly polished surface.

Ancient Egyptians used alabaster for many purposes, including ritual objects, household items, and different funerary collection such as sarcophaguses and canopic equipment. If you like to see a great collection of ancient Egyptian alabaster you should go to the Egyptian museum, as using of alabaster in Egypt dates back into the Pharaonic period of the Egyptian history, as oriental alabaster (marble or calcium carbonate) was very popular during the New Kingdom period in Egypt. The working of alabaster reached it’s height during the Third and Fourth Dynasties, 2600-2400 BC.

After the end of the pharaonic period, little mention is made of alabaster until the time of Mohamed Ali Basha, who used it to adorn his mosque at the Citadel. Known today as the Mohamed Ali Mosque, it is also known as the Alabaster Mosque.

Arabesque or Mashrabiya work is a unique handmade wood work which is mainly used in decorating windows, houses and you can find in different parts of furniture such as beds, sofas and chairs, as well as art objects for walls.

The wood which used for the mashrabiya is very important and includes different types such as Zan wood which is the most often used. There are also other types types of wood are used which may range from lemon wood to Abanos.  Abanos is the most expensive type of wood types that are used.

Concerning the way of work, firstly the workman takes small pieces of wood and shapes them into regular forms of various sizes by his tools. Then, these pieces are linked together using a very strong glue to make the final mashrabiya screen. The wood is then stained various colors, often between dark red and black.

Due to the hard work of arabesque as it is totally handmade, takes a lot of time and costs so its products are more expensive than other handmade products but if you own one piece of these products you should know that you have a unique and best piece that you will ever own.

This work dates back to the Islamic period in Egypt and flourished during the Fatimid Period.

This design was used during Islamic period in Egypt because it was considered a form of tented windows as it allowed someone from the inside to look out without being seen. So these mashrabiya screens were used to cover the windows of the women’s quarters within homes.

Egyptians care about their heritage and all of time choose to keep it, and it clear in the continuation of many handmade products that are started producing in ancient Egypt and continued till now.

Basket work is one of Egyptian handmade objects that dates back to the time of ancient Egypt and continued till now in modern Egypt, even by the same materials and techniques that were used to make it during the different periods of the ancient Egyptian history. There is a clear continuity between ancient and modern Egyptian basketry.

Shimoshops.com offers you a great handmade collection of weaving products and basket work, such as baskets, sun hats, bags, mats, tables, and other modern products, all in different shapes and sizes. Make sure that when you have a piece from shimoshops.com you will a unique piece with best price you cannot get in any other place.

Producing a final basket sometimes needs many days, as it needs a lot of patience to avoid ruining the piece, and it needs also a lot of attentiveness and a soft touch on the materials because its very fragile.

There are three types of making and forming baskets, all of them are known from ancient Egypt. These three types are twined, coiled and plaited.

All Twined baskets are made by weaving horizontal fiber elements called wefts around a stationary vertical framework called warps. To secure these elements, many different knots and stitches can be used.

Coiled basketry is made by spirally coiling a continuous foundation of tightly wrapped bundles of fibers which creates a circular or oval base and walls. Then they bounded this coiled base by stitching, which intersects and binds the successive coils one to another. The unique look of the products is usually provided by this stitching. There are two techniques of coiling, the first one is the Bee-skep technique of coiling, in which the stitches are spaced widely apart without touching one another, while the second technique is the Furcate coil technique in which the new stitch is used to split the stitch in the preceding coil.

In a plaited construction, the baskets are made by weaving horizontal fiber elements and the material’s strips are woven into baskets by passing under and over each other usually at regular intervals. The continuous intersections of the plaited constructional elements provide a cohesive unit, so no additional stitching is usually required except, sometimes, to secure the edges.

Basket making is one of the oldest craft in the entire world in general and in ancient Egypt in particular. Remains of Baskets were found in the earliest sites in ancient Egypt, such as the remains which were found in Fayoum and are dating back to the Neolithic period, about 5000 BC.

The ancient Egyptians made different shapes and sizes of baskets, such as the oval and circular shapes which were common during that time. The ancient Egyptian basketry craftsmen used to add decorations and different shapes to baskets in order to be aesthetically pleasing object beside their essential functional role.

The ancient Egyptians used different materials to make baskets, and he the coiled way of making and forming baskets was the most commonly used in ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians used also the date and Dom palms’ leaves to make plaited and coiled baskets, and they used the Halfa grasses as a bundle material and they used to twist it into cordago in order to serve as sets of elements in a twined basketry.

Ancient Egyptians used to produce other objects by the same material and techniques of basket making, such as grain silos, sandals, and mats which were made by the binding of plant materials with string or by plaiting.

Because of the lightweight and unbreakable features of the baskets, ancient Egyptians used it in other tasks such as versatile storage and transportation containers for food and other goods, and the used the flat plaited mats in their mud-brick homes for flooring, roofing, window and door covering, and bed frames.

Egypt is famous for the superior quality of its cotton, as its preferred around the whole world for the high quality of its different products. Egyptian cotton is long stable cotton that makes it softer and stronger at the same time.

Shimo shops offers you a different valuable collection of the pure Egyptian cotton such as towels, bed sheets, a cotton blanket, bedspreads, after shower robes, tablecloths, and different types of clothes.

The Galabeya is a traditional custom in Egypt, which is used by both men and women, the style and design of galabeya is different according to the region of Egypt, as its style in Cairo is different about its style in rural areas.

There are three basic designs for men’s galabeyas: Ifrangi (a floor-length tailored shirt with collar and cuffs), Saudi (with a high-buttoned neck and no collar) and baladi (very wide sleeves and a low, rounded neckline).

Cotton is a plant produces a natural vegetable fiber that is used in the manufacturing of cloth. Its uncertain when cotton has been used for the production of textile and when it has been grown in Egypt exactly, but many scientists said that probably cotton was being grown in the Nile Valley as early as 3,000 BC.

In 1822, Mohammed Ali the founder of modern Egypt introduced cotton into Egypt as a commercial production, as this crop extended all over the Delta, and cotton sold and generated huge sums of cash, from that time till now, Egypt famous for the superior quality of its cotton and the high quality of its different products.