A worker brushes the replica of the golden mask for ancient Egyptian mummy at Konouz Egypt Replica Treasures factory in Qalyubia Province, Egypt, on May 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
Wanna feast your eyes on ancient Egyptian artifacts, such as King Tutankhamun's golden mask and Queen Nefertiti's busts, for eternity? Konouz Egypt Replica Treasures, the first factory in Egypt that produces replicas of historical Egyptian antiquities, serves the purpose.
QALYUBIA, Egypt, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of designers, sculptors, painters and workers, all dressed in white coats, were busy producing replicas of ancient Egyptian artifacts at Konouz Egypt Replica Treasures, the first factory in Egypt and the Middle East for producing replicas of historical Egyptian antiquities.
"Actually, the company produces not only replicas of Egyptian antiquities, but also the ones of Coptic, Islamic and Greco-Roman antiquities," said Mohamed Nossair, an operation official at the factory. "The production depends on the artistic and historical value of the original piece as well as its popularity locally and internationally."
Built on an area of 10,000 square meters in the industrial zone of El Obour City in Qalyubia Province, north of the capital Cairo, the factory consists of several spacious sections for designing, printing, sculpturing, coloring and so on.
A painter colors the replica of ancient Egypt's golden-black cat goddess Bastet at Konouz Egypt Replica Treasures factory in Qalyubia Province, Egypt, on May 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
Ahmed Hussein, head of the sculpture section, was working on a replica of the golden mask of famous ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamun.
"The replicas are produced here in a 1:1 ratio as an identical model in which we preserve the shape and try to reach the Pharaonic spirit with which the original piece was made," said Hussein.
Meanwhile, a dozen of busts of ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti were being colored in the painting and coloring section.
"This is the last working procedure. The statue is sculptured first, and then it goes to the casting section for duplication. Finally, it comes to us for coloring and final touches," said Raihana Reda Ali, a 27-year-old painter.
Most of the artists in the factory came from the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Painters color the replicas of busts of ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti at Konouz Egypt Replica Treasures factory in Qalyubia Province, Egypt, on May 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
Inaugurated in late March by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled al-Anany, the factory opened its first gift shop at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo. It plans to open more shops in other museums and tourist sites nationwide in the near future.
Photo shows the finished replicas of ancient Egyptian antiquities at Konouz Egypt Replica Treasures factory in Qalyubia Province, Egypt, on May 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
The minister noted at the inauguration ceremony that the factory was not just a commercial project, "but aims to present the Egyptian industry to the world and contribute to protecting the Egyptian civilizational and cultural heritage." ■
