Antique Egyptian Revival Appliqué Wallhanging with Herders, Geese, Hieroglyphics: C1920s Egypt

This textile is a vintage Egyptian Khayamiya (appliqué) wall hanging dating to the 1920s–1930s Art Deco "Egyptian Revival" period.

Following the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb by Howard Carter in 1922, a global craze for all things ancient Egyptian swept the design world. Street artisans in Cairo's famous Street of the Tentmakers (Suq al-Khayamiyya) hand-stitched these panels out of dyed cotton fabrics to sell as souvenirs to western tourists.

This piece depicts two herders guiding a line of fowl toward a stylized papyrus thicket. The imagery is heavily inspired by famous tomb frescoes, combining elements of Old and New Kingdom art (such as the famous Meidum Geese motif and scenes of marshland hunting).

Genuine tentmaker appliqué panels from this specific 1920s revival era are highly collectible among textile enthusiasts and interior designers

Measurements:
135.5cm wide x 49.5cm tall

Condition: Good antique condition with some rubs and losses to surface of appliqués commensurate with age.