Animals by the watering hole
Tapestry
1985 (made)
1985 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Ramses Wissa Wassef established his tapestry school and workshop in the village of Harraniyyah in 1952. The aim was to teach local children the basic traditional methods of weaving and dyeing, and revive the art of tapestry weaving which had formerly flourished in Egypt, particularly in the Byzantine period. 'Ali Salim, who made this tapestry, joined the Wissa Wassef school soon after its foundation at the age of 12. He went on to become one of its most famous weavers.
Wissa Wassef did not tell his pupils what to weave. Instead, he encouraged them to take inspiration from the surrounding countryside or from village life. He also forbade them from making preliminary drawings, so even a large and detailed scene like this one was built up directly on the loom.
Wissa Wassef did not tell his pupils what to weave. Instead, he encouraged them to take inspiration from the surrounding countryside or from village life. He also forbade them from making preliminary drawings, so even a large and detailed scene like this one was built up directly on the loom.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Animals by the watering hole (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Wool, hand dyed and woven |
| Brief description | 'Animals by the watering hole', hand-woven wool tapestry, made by 'Ali Salim at Wissa Wassef tapestry workshop, Egypt, 1985 |
| Physical description | Hand-woven wool tapestry showing an African scene of animals at a watering hole. The eccentric weave of the tapestry gives it a rippled surface. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Katie Marsh in memory of Violet Lily Marsh. Copyright Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre |
| Object history | This tapestry was purchased directly from the Wissa Wassef workshop by the donor, Katie Marsh, in October 1985. Historical significance: This tapestry was made by 'Ali Salim, who joined the Wissa Wassef school soon after its foundation at the age of 12, and went on to become one of its most famous weavers. |
| Historical context | Ramses Wissa Wassef and his wife Sophie Habib Gorgi established a tapestry school and workshop in the village of Harraniyyah in 1952. The aim was to teach local children the basic traditional methods of weaving and dying, reviving the art of tapestry weaving which had formerly flourished in Egypt, particularly in the Byzantine period. Wissa Wassef did not tell the children what to weave, nor did he allow them to make preliminary drawings. Instead, he encouraged them to take inspiration from the surrounding countryside or from village life, and to create images directly on the loom. He continued to supervise the school until his death in 1974, when his wife Sophie took over. |
| Production | Made at the Wissa Wassef tapestry workshop, Harraniyyah |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Ramses Wissa Wassef established his tapestry school and workshop in the village of Harraniyyah in 1952. The aim was to teach local children the basic traditional methods of weaving and dyeing, and revive the art of tapestry weaving which had formerly flourished in Egypt, particularly in the Byzantine period. 'Ali Salim, who made this tapestry, joined the Wissa Wassef school soon after its foundation at the age of 12. He went on to become one of its most famous weavers. Wissa Wassef did not tell his pupils what to weave. Instead, he encouraged them to take inspiration from the surrounding countryside or from village life. He also forbade them from making preliminary drawings, so even a large and detailed scene like this one was built up directly on the loom. |
| Bibliographic reference | Fehérvari, Géza. Az iszlám müvészet története. Budapest: Képzömüvészeti Kiadó, 1987. Page 416. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | ME.1-2008 |
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| Record created | April 3, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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