Museums
Gayer-Anderson Museum (Bayt al-Kiritliya)
Tuesday، 12 September 2017 - 02:15 PM
The Gayer-Anderson Museum is named after an early-20th century British doctor, John Gayer-Anderson, who restored the two 16th-century buildings that now host the museum collection. Gayer-Anderson decorated the rooms in a variety of Oriental styles and filled them with objects from his travels. In addition to objects from Iran and Turkey, he also has Egyptian (both ancient and historic) items, as well as a collection of paintings and drawings done by 20th century artists. The abuilding, with its wooden mashrabiya (screened windows), is also known for being a set for the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me.
Labels are in Arabic and English, but a guide is a requirement. For a small tip staff members will guide you through the museum, showing you details of the buildings, such as a secret room from which women could watch festivities taking place in the room below. The house also boasts one of the few working Islamic period fountains in Egypt, and has a fine collection of birthing chairs and ethno-medical equipment in keeping with Gayer-Anderson ’s job as a doctor.
The Gayer Anderson Museum in Cairo is a must-see on your exploration tour of Islamic Cairo. It consists of an amazing patchwork of Islamic styles and artefacts packed into two wonderful ancient residences: Beit el-Kiridiliya (1632) and Beit Amna Bent Salim (1540). The museum was founded by a British major, John Gayer-Anderson, an army doctor who restored and furnished the two residences between 1935 and 1942, filling them with antiquities, artwork, furniture, glassware, crystal, carpets, silks and embroidered Arab costumes. The museum hosts a puzzle of theme-decorated rooms: the Persian room has exquisite tiling, the Damascus room has lacquer and gold, whereas in other parts of the museum, you’ll find a central marble fountain, decorated ceiling beams and carpet-covered alcoves.
LOCATION:
Beit al-Kritliyya, Ibn Tulun Street (next to the Mosque of Ibn Tulun.
DIRECTIONS:
BY TAXI: Ask for “mes-ghid Ibn Tulun.” The museum is attached to the south-east corner of the mosque.
The museum is not wheelchair accessible.
Labels are in Arabic and English, but a guide is a requirement. For a small tip staff members will guide you through the museum, showing you details of the buildings, such as a secret room from which women could watch festivities taking place in the room below. The house also boasts one of the few working Islamic period fountains in Egypt, and has a fine collection of birthing chairs and ethno-medical equipment in keeping with Gayer-Anderson ’s job as a doctor.
The Gayer Anderson Museum in Cairo is a must-see on your exploration tour of Islamic Cairo. It consists of an amazing patchwork of Islamic styles and artefacts packed into two wonderful ancient residences: Beit el-Kiridiliya (1632) and Beit Amna Bent Salim (1540). The museum was founded by a British major, John Gayer-Anderson, an army doctor who restored and furnished the two residences between 1935 and 1942, filling them with antiquities, artwork, furniture, glassware, crystal, carpets, silks and embroidered Arab costumes. The museum hosts a puzzle of theme-decorated rooms: the Persian room has exquisite tiling, the Damascus room has lacquer and gold, whereas in other parts of the museum, you’ll find a central marble fountain, decorated ceiling beams and carpet-covered alcoves.
LOCATION:
Beit al-Kritliyya, Ibn Tulun Street (next to the Mosque of Ibn Tulun.
DIRECTIONS:
BY TAXI: Ask for “mes-ghid Ibn Tulun.” The museum is attached to the south-east corner of the mosque.
The museum is not wheelchair accessible.
Supreme Council of Antiquities & Egyptian Tourism Authority
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