Common to all small Egyptian towns are cottage industry crafts shops, where crasftsmen produce everything from papyrus paintings to alabaster vases. Crafts shops are as much a part of the tourist experience in Egypt as the pyramids or temples. Indeed, many Egyptians make a fine living selling their handicrafts to tourists and overseas markets. Overall, however, tourism has had a positive impact on craft-making as a profession in Egypt and has helped to keep old skills alive. On our tour of Egypt s ancient sites, we visited an alabaster factory near the Valley of the Kings.
Alabaster is a rock material that is mined in many places in Egypt.
It is quite beautiful, and occurs naturally in many shades of color from pure white to reddish-tan. When held up to the light, it looks like quartz and is almost see-through, if thin enough. Alabaster has been used for centuries in Egypt to make things like vases, bowls, and today, lampshades and ashtrays. In the past, all alabaster pieces were mined and shaped by hand. Today, many shops use machines to accomplish the hard work of hollowing, shaping, and polishing.