![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TVSA6F6JZVWPY6GVRZQTSRZJJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0eb1bf11b2ac2f6770654706564aadc34b0c9e3b2cae4e20fecee53b038744a&width=400&height=225)
Some of the replicas of ancient artefacts and statues on display at the Konouz factory. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KNIJODYV4TPCXAWMZ7VYEZCC3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=7e04c111cdf7c83bcc77e3b7714a70be37060dd23a2f4aa77479749fe7cd2d1b&width=400&height=225)
A finished replica of the mask of King Tutankhamun displayed at Konouz factory, the first of its kind in the country, to be sold at the recently opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TTFA6YH7EZFGVK3XFJXXGJY64Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=6c0858397424686d79eb2bd435937cecffa856c709cc9070bf3c6156d7350993&width=400&height=225)
Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities oversees Konouz, a state-owned factory on a 10,000-square-metre site set up at a cost of 100 million Egyptian pounds ($6.36m). Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2R55QBAHTR7PWBTT2PO2BSSOHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=74796b4697bed3b3d5b4a96d337898eecba5580108ce8894657314877e25ad27&width=400&height=225)
The staff of about 150 includes restoration experts drawn from the ministry and Supreme Council of Antiquities, as well as fine art students in training. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QGSN32LMPFP276T6IEDA2OT23U.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff889aaf37963e6081700aa3f84946941c2dd72e1ec8193385d45936acd3655a&width=400&height=225)
The factory makes a range of about 70 replicas, including miniatures of King Tut’s funerary mask and a fibreglass model bust of Alexander the Great’. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V2NG4NW3ADUDW7N6HQAJ346G6E.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e38851d1ba3784b96d94878c37fa95f65773b4e9f450e99ddc7160bfb9b7caa&width=400&height=225)
Workers manufacture replicas of ancient artefacts and statues at Konouz factory. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IKFKHICIOP5MXPAOIY7AKTNTSQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3247ed35d64289c08c76f6d21fec12809d08c90da9ecd2aab795c72e0b00662&width=400&height=225)
The replicas are mainly for decorative purposes. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FRM4P3EDC6IF6ZXXUUEYIJBQSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e0820738248173a4bc770c4d8c75b71bb1ab9528b5f02509a3c09d85f1d8041&width=400&height=225)
The bulk of the replicas produced are of artefacts from Ancient Egypt. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QYCFBZEGEFDY5JGABWYJMIZIZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e992383154f05177b61bd5c906d9363d8a26856e29b03c022f297b3fc99a1df5&width=400&height=225)
The factory also explores other civilisations that influenced Egypt’s long history, including Greco-Roman, Coptic and Islamic. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IF25UECZI5Q2PQKZRHTPHU6BGE.jpg?smart=true&auth=d19f27c86a546b1258a34662f2c48d168b9fa1495a93c98bf4fd43cdba158b40&width=400&height=225)
The factory produces about 200 to 250 replicas each day. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4CWFGGWYP2IMRA7JRTQHX3O3IM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c25bb58d751cc930bee1ad31aff87583c52bc32cae146d29402bb6ed804d38ce&width=400&height=225)
Managers at Konouz hope to produce between 500 and 800 replicas once tourism recovers from the pandemic. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RE6LDOOEXS7FZUVSNH7KCJHF5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=5622b1facdfb9518588f192e9b1c9c1be007776539252e034ac54e1af33a7d6d&width=400&height=225)
One of the most popular replicas is a miniature sarcophagus. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GFDQGTKFL5EAFKYI4G3YCNM2HA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d6cc25a2c23ce0382d2074dc9e347aaedfdd2454a37aac46c23442664fd27a2&width=400&height=225)
Attention to detail ... a worker at Konouz factory. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IEVVG4YPJJOSIR5SPBEUL5E7NA.jpg?smart=true&auth=f476b11eab2978744b30ef1b8f907425811bc24d433975a572582f541a9725b4&width=400&height=225)
Life-size replicas of large items manufactured at Konouz can cost up to 12,000 Egyptian pounds ($765). Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TVSA6F6JZVWPY6GVRZQTSRZJJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0eb1bf11b2ac2f6770654706564aadc34b0c9e3b2cae4e20fecee53b038744a&width=400&height=225)
Some of the replicas of ancient artefacts and statues on display at the Konouz factory. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KNIJODYV4TPCXAWMZ7VYEZCC3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=7e04c111cdf7c83bcc77e3b7714a70be37060dd23a2f4aa77479749fe7cd2d1b&width=400&height=225)
A finished replica of the mask of King Tutankhamun displayed at Konouz factory, the first of its kind in the country, to be sold at the recently opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TTFA6YH7EZFGVK3XFJXXGJY64Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=6c0858397424686d79eb2bd435937cecffa856c709cc9070bf3c6156d7350993&width=400&height=225)
Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities oversees Konouz, a state-owned factory on a 10,000-square-metre site set up at a cost of 100 million Egyptian pounds ($6.36m). Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2R55QBAHTR7PWBTT2PO2BSSOHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=74796b4697bed3b3d5b4a96d337898eecba5580108ce8894657314877e25ad27&width=400&height=225)
The staff of about 150 includes restoration experts drawn from the ministry and Supreme Council of Antiquities, as well as fine art students in training. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QGSN32LMPFP276T6IEDA2OT23U.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff889aaf37963e6081700aa3f84946941c2dd72e1ec8193385d45936acd3655a&width=400&height=225)
The factory makes a range of about 70 replicas, including miniatures of King Tut’s funerary mask and a fibreglass model bust of Alexander the Great’. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V2NG4NW3ADUDW7N6HQAJ346G6E.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e38851d1ba3784b96d94878c37fa95f65773b4e9f450e99ddc7160bfb9b7caa&width=400&height=225)
Workers manufacture replicas of ancient artefacts and statues at Konouz factory. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IKFKHICIOP5MXPAOIY7AKTNTSQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3247ed35d64289c08c76f6d21fec12809d08c90da9ecd2aab795c72e0b00662&width=400&height=225)
The replicas are mainly for decorative purposes. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FRM4P3EDC6IF6ZXXUUEYIJBQSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e0820738248173a4bc770c4d8c75b71bb1ab9528b5f02509a3c09d85f1d8041&width=400&height=225)
The bulk of the replicas produced are of artefacts from Ancient Egypt. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QYCFBZEGEFDY5JGABWYJMIZIZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e992383154f05177b61bd5c906d9363d8a26856e29b03c022f297b3fc99a1df5&width=400&height=225)
The factory also explores other civilisations that influenced Egypt’s long history, including Greco-Roman, Coptic and Islamic. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IF25UECZI5Q2PQKZRHTPHU6BGE.jpg?smart=true&auth=d19f27c86a546b1258a34662f2c48d168b9fa1495a93c98bf4fd43cdba158b40&width=400&height=225)
The factory produces about 200 to 250 replicas each day. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4CWFGGWYP2IMRA7JRTQHX3O3IM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c25bb58d751cc930bee1ad31aff87583c52bc32cae146d29402bb6ed804d38ce&width=400&height=225)
Managers at Konouz hope to produce between 500 and 800 replicas once tourism recovers from the pandemic. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RE6LDOOEXS7FZUVSNH7KCJHF5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=5622b1facdfb9518588f192e9b1c9c1be007776539252e034ac54e1af33a7d6d&width=400&height=225)
One of the most popular replicas is a miniature sarcophagus. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GFDQGTKFL5EAFKYI4G3YCNM2HA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d6cc25a2c23ce0382d2074dc9e347aaedfdd2454a37aac46c23442664fd27a2&width=400&height=225)
Attention to detail ... a worker at Konouz factory. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IEVVG4YPJJOSIR5SPBEUL5E7NA.jpg?smart=true&auth=f476b11eab2978744b30ef1b8f907425811bc24d433975a572582f541a9725b4&width=400&height=225)
Life-size replicas of large items manufactured at Konouz can cost up to 12,000 Egyptian pounds ($765). Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TVSA6F6JZVWPY6GVRZQTSRZJJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0eb1bf11b2ac2f6770654706564aadc34b0c9e3b2cae4e20fecee53b038744a&width=400&height=225)
Some of the replicas of ancient artefacts and statues on display at the Konouz factory. Reuters
Life-size chariots and mini mummies: Egyptian replica factory brings historical artefacts home
Egypt enters the battle of the gift shops, offering souvenir replicas of ancient artefacts typically made in China
![Kamal Tabikha](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fe71eee50-7d3c-4c5e-9fc6-05fc0bd92abd.png?smart=true&auth=8284915f8fce454f759e58679a12a4e994b886e6d3ff719651a28db2db9058a0&width=70&height=70)
Kamal Tabikha
11 June, 2021
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