The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

On Hassan
Assem Street in Zamalek, an orange glow spills onto the street. A shop window is so filled with lanterns that
at first glance, you’d think that’s all they sell here. However, customers who
venture into Castle Art Gallery may be in for a surprise.

There is
little to nothing about the newly opened shop that is reminiscent of an art
gallery, so right off the bat we’re confused. They are decidedly not in the business of dealing art, or any artisan
products. However, it is not just the
misnomer that has us perplexed. The large
collection of resin ash trays with figures of women in suggestive poses makes
us wonder who their target customer is. Especially when juxtaposed with
decorations that you would expect to find in a child’s room such as brightly
coloured mobiles.

The collection of products that they sell seems
to follow a Far Asian theme; offering souvenirs and trinkets made of wood,
bamboo and plastic, and imported from China, India and Indonesia.  

However, if
you are in the market for home accessories and souvenirs that have little to do
with Cairo, Castle Art Gallery is a good spot to find it. Shelves are nearly overflowing with knick-knacks
and trinkets, mostly made of plastic and resin, such as various sizes of tribal
face masks and small statues. Colourful resin coasters and decorative trays
(90LE) are displayed next to a collection of wooden elephant figures in various
sizes, as charming, egg-shaped glass lamps fill the room with multicoloured
light. At the door entrance, quaint hanging strings of little elephants and
other figures would make perfect decorations for a balcony or window, while photo
albums (105LE) are wrapped in plastic to protect the twine and wood embellished
covers.  

Castle Art
Gallery’s window display is definitely eye-catching: the window is cramped with
lit star-shaped lanterns made of brightly coloured paper, which come in two
sizes for 15LE and 35LE. Their bright colours and reasonable prices make these
lanterns great for adding a fun touch to a child’s bedroom or for decorating a
party.

If Castle Art
Gallery pared down their selection to the fanciful lighting and some of the
more quality trinkets, it could be a great shop. Still, take the time to browse
through the shelves to find a few gems.