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On board Nanusa, a design jewel in the Nile


In 1928-29, the German Swiss expressionist Paul Klee traveled through Egypt, going through Alexandria and Cairo to Luxor and Asuán. Among the works that his trip inspired is the Monument to Der Grenze des Fruchtlandes (Monument on the border of the fertile earth), a linear abstraction of dream that represents the crops irrigated throughout the Nile, a landscape practically unchanged since biblical times, as a multitude of watercolor stretch marks.

Goya Gallagher, founder of New Cairo based in Lifestyle Brand Anūt el Cairoreferenced the Monument In the design of NanusaHis five cabins Dahabiya (A traditional candle ship style that has been a fixed element in the Nile for centuries), the withdrawal that escapes when it is not at home in Cairo or London. The shading of the main platform is a huge canopy, designed from heavy linen sections that have been stained by hand in the tones of earth to Klee Arena, then sewn almost invisibly together. It gently collapses in the breeze, an echo of both the work of art and the living landscape that surrounds the boat, from day and coming out.

The Nanusa in the Nile of Asuán
The Nanusa in the Nile of Asuán © Nour Elmassry
A canopy inspired by Paul Klee hangs on the main deck
A canopy inspired by Paul Klee hangs on the main deck © Nour Elmassry

They are encounters like these, between artists and the beauty of Egypt, which have not only inspired the design of the Gallagher ship, but also the new bed and tables of Anūt el Cairo, glassware, ceramics and accessories. “Egypt is incredibly in layers, both historically and in terms of the arch of its crafts,” she says. “From the ancients to the cops textiles, the moms and the Ottomans.” Each one has their own different aesthetic language, but they are all part of the plot of the Egyptian inheritance. The first collection of Anūt el Cairo, a trip in the Nile, in which Gallagher collaborated with Cruz Cruz María Wyndham, pays tribute to Ancient Egypt.

Ceramic archetype vanilla candlestorm, £ 138

Ceramic archetype vanilla candlestorm, £ 138

Mosaic mosaic and metal cosmic side table, £ 2.023

Mosaic mosaic and metal cosmic side table, £ 2.023

Ceramic cow dish, £ 201

Ceramic cow dish, £ 201

Ceramic candlebra candlestick, £ 465

Ceramic candlebra candlestick, £ 465

“I have always tended to think in terms of different eras, so it looked like the right place to start,” he says, looking up and on the white virgins of the boat to the covered coasts of the distant river, where a few miles far away is the Ptolemaic temple of Horus in Edfu. “Not long ago, I went to the tombs of the artisans [at Deir el-Medina]. For me they are the most beautiful because they are simply freer: artisans were not obliged to maintain the instructions they would have had in the creation of the tombs of kings and queens. “

Aboard NanusaPharaonic motifs go to the surface everywhere. A side table represents a night sky with a burning moon and five -pointed stars with small stone mosaic tiles. It is executed in the unmistakable tones of the famous tomb paintings of the Valley of Thebes: rich yellow saffron, red blood of ox and indigo so dark that it is almost black. In the living room on the main deck, the walls are covered with Khayamiya tapestries as they represent dates, ritual amphorae and ankhs, interspersed with strips and cotton panels of intricately tissue Akhmim, a textile tradition so old that it was cited by the historian in the Great and Geographer Herodotus in the 5th century BC. C.

He Nanusa In itself it has belonged to Gallagher for 20 years, before which its history is a mystery: “You almost never know the origin of these Dahabiyas. Everyone who tries to sell one will insist that once belonged to some prince. At one point, this was apparently a restaurant in Cairo. “When he acquired it, he was in poor condition and made the first total restoration with the late antake Amr Khalil, one of the most venerated interior designers in Egypt quite Egyptian. [off the main deck]. And then, because river boats always need maintenance, it has evolved from year to year.

One of the cabins, with Anūt El Cairo products, which include cotton palm pillow covers and lino tent coverage, £ 1,187 (the auxiliary table of the oak breakup, £ 1,750, is per HAF)
One of the cabins, with Anūt El Cairo products, which include cotton palm pillow covers and lino tent coverage, £ 1,187 (the auxiliary table of the oak breakup, £ 1,750, is per HAF) © Nour Elmassry
The living room, with its walls of Khayamiya by Mohamed Abdelwahed and a tapestry of Wissa Wassef that covers the Ottoman, in which a wicker wicker tray of Anūt, £ 403, which contains ceramic ceramic ceramics, from ceramics, from £ 35, and a Ram ceramic candlestick, £ 70. On the couch are the cushhmim cotton and linen cotton heiro, £ 95 each
The living room, with its walls of Khayamiya by Mohamed Abdelwahed and a tapestry by Wissa Wassef that covers the Ottoman, in which a wicker tray of Anūt, £ 403, which contains ceramic ceramic ceramics basins, from £ 35, and a Ram ceramic candlestick, £ 70. On the couch are the cushhmim cotton and linen cotton heiro, £ 95 each © Nour Elmassry

“But this,” she says, pointing to the mixture of cakes and contemporary rattan of very old Egypt and contemporary rattan, Akhmim and Khayamiyas Capricoso cushions, “it is the greatest readjustment I have done.”

It took place in 2024, almost at the same time as her and Cruz María Wyndham decided to launch Anūt el Cairo. (Both had previously been involved with the Egyptian design study Malaika, Gallagher as co -founder). The fruits of the first collection of Anūt El Cairo are thanks to “a large mixture of collaborators,” says Gallagher. “Some were artisans that we already knew”, such as Amal Akhnoukh, the mosaic artist who created the charming auxiliary table. “But we had never made a table before. Then we found a brilliant metal worker, and the two collaborated. That made us realize that we really liked the idea of ​​artists and artisans who combine their talents. “This multidirectional collaboration means:” Things will always have their uniqueness. I love. Even when he says: “Please do this specific, With these specific colors, “it is always a conversation. And there will be an unexpected element, a small surprise.”

Other collaborators were more recent discoveries, such as Moushira Elamrawy, the dye expert who created the dosel inspired by Klee. “I found her on Instagram, she lives in Alexandria. I asked if I would be interested in making some fabrics for us, using all the old natural dyes: Granada, Hibiscus, Comino and ground nuts stars) as a kind of experiment. And she came and he really taught us how to dye. Then I sent Klee’s painting and asked him if he could help me create something like that. ”

A detail of one of the boat baths
A detail of one of the boat baths © Nour Elmassry
Gallagher plans to offer residences of artists and creators aboard Nanusa
Gallagher plans to offer residences of artists and creators aboard Nanusa © Nour Elmassry
Swimmers next to the boat
Swimmers next to the boat © Nour Elmassry

It is a beautiful example of why Egyptian crafts have commanded such respect throughout the world and for so long. “But I think it could, it is necessary, to climb a little,” says Gallagher. “We should try to raise crafts to its highest expression. If it could be part of doing that the case, then that in my opinion would constitute real success. “

Meanwhile, their immediate plans involve committing artists aboard Nanusa: “I have been thinking for some time, ‘I have this boat. I could be sharing it, using it to have some kind of impact.” , although organic or subtly. Gallagher is “completely open” for everyone, provided they are creators. “A novelist? A ceramic artist? We could make the five senses, with a filmmaker, a musician, a spice manufacturer or chef … “

Initially, the residence will focus on Egyptian artists. Gallagher has allocated an appointment for the poet and photographer Mohamed Abdel triggered to begin, after which he will collaborate with the estimated plaster gallery of Cairo. She is still considering what type of work or contribution will be delivered to the artists in question and when: “But I also trust that a trip through the Nile in this ship will do a lot of inspiring work for me.”

Anūt el Cairo, 14 Shagaret al Dor, Zamalek, Cairo, Anutcairo.com. Also available products in abask.com and Goodeeworld.com

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