When Craft Becomes Heritage: The Journey of Wood in Egyptian Heritage
Written by Gehad Shawky Ali, Community Engagement and Outreach Programme Coordinator, The Archaeological Awareness Administration of Luxor (Egypt, ITP 2025).
On the occasion of World Heritage Day (18 April), I organized a temporary exhibition and a series of interactive workshops, held from 18 to 25 April 2025, in collaboration with Misr Public Library in Luxor and Tafaseel Gallery.
The exhibition concept was inspired by the Object on Focus project, which I explored during my participation in the International Training Program at the British Museum in 2025. This concept was further developed to include additional themes and activities highlighting the continuity of craftsmanship as a living heritage.
Titled “When Craft Becomes Heritage… The Journey of Wood in Egyptian Heritage,” the exhibition traced the development of woodworking in ancient Egypt, demonstrating how craftsmen skillfully utilized both local and imported timber. This expertise was evident in both every day and funerary furniture, as depicted on the walls of temples and tombs.
The exhibition was structured around key themes, including sources of wood, its journey from nature to the workshop, woodworking tools, and the various functions of furniture, culminating in the enduring legacy of the craft today.
One of the highlights of the exhibition was a contemporary reconstruction of an ancient Egyptian folding chair, currently displayed at the British Museum. It is believed to have been discovered in a tomb at Thebes (modern-day Luxor) in the early 19th century, and later acquired by Henry Salt through Sotheby’s in London during an 1835 sale (lot 658). The chair was reinterpreted by Egyptian artisans using modern tools, while preserving the essence of the original design, creating a tangible link between past and present.
© British Museum © Made by: Tafaseel Gallery
The exhibition also presented a contemporary interpretation of woodworking through modern tools inspired by ancient ones discovered in tombs—an approach influenced by the Fitzwilliam Museum—emphasizing the continuity of techniques across time.
© Made by: Tafaseel Gallery
This narrative was further enriched by a display of wooden products crafted from local materials by Tafaseel Gallery, established in January 2021. The gallery embarks on a journey to revive a long-standing tradition rooted in the ancient Egyptian use of natural materials, particularly local wood, transforming them into integral elements of daily life, from furniture to household objects. These works reflect the ability of contemporary artisans to utilize available resources and reinterpret heritage through a modern lens, affirming the continuity and renewal of the craft.
The exhibition also incorporated an interactive component, engaging visitors directly, and concluded with an art workshop for children, where participants expressed their impressions of the exhibition through drawing and coloring—an effort to connect younger generations with this enduring heritage.
