Gayer Anderson Museum – The Art Museum in Sayyida Zeinab, Cairo

The Gayer Anderson Museum is best described as being an art museum. Located in Cairo’s Sayyida Zeinab neighbourhood, the museum is named after a man by the name of Major R.G. Gayer-Anderson who lived in the building from 1932 to 1942, after being given full permission to do so from the then Egyptian government.

While the building was already home to numerous treasured artefacts, Gayer-Anderson also contributed many which he had personally collected during his time in Egypt. Today, people who visit the Gayer Anderson Museum are treated to a delightful collection of artefacts, including fine carpets, various furnishings, a very impressive art collection and more.

One of the wonderful things about this particular museum is that it is not only the contents of the museum which attract people but also the building itself. It is in fact considered to be one of the very best remaining examples of 17th-century Muslim architecture in Cairo and especial domestic Muslim architecture from that period.

The actual buildings were built against one of the outer walls of the Mosque of Ibn Tulun which still stands today. At the time, it was very common for people to build private homes in the manner, but in the early 20th century, the number of homes in the area, most of which were very run down, effectively prevented anyone from being able to see the mosque, and so the decision was made to tear them down.

However, because the museum buildings were so well-preserved, they were spared and partially restored, and once Gayer-Anderson was given permission to live on the premises, he set about restoring the buildings even more. He also took charge of installing electricity and all new plumbing.

In 1942, Gayer-Anderson was forced to move out as a result illness, and he donated his collection and all the contents in the house to the Egyptian government, and in return, King Farouk bestowed on him, the title of Pasha. Major Gayer-Anderson Pasha succumbed to his illness and passed away back in England in 1945. Later, the Gayer Anderson Museum would open in his memory.