Door Curtain Or Wall Hanging, Neo-egyptian Style Appliqué, 1920s.

This "Khayamiya" piece belongs to the Egyptian Revival movement—a period of "Egyptomania" that captivated the Western imagination in the early 20th century, particularly following the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb around 1922. Artisans from Cairo's "Street of Cairo" created large figurative scenes inspired by pharaonic frescoes to sell to international travelers and collectors. The work is entirely hand-sewn, featuring colored cotton pieces cut out and appliquéd onto a heavy linen backing. The central figure is a seated pharaoh, inspired by Osiris and holding the Was scepter; numerous symbols are depicted, including Anubis, a vulture with outstretched wings, and lotus flowers. The piece is in fairly good condition, despite some missing fabric along the edges and on one of the lotus flowers.