_Welcome to Jeannies Bazaar. Jeannies Bazaar has been selling this exciting line of products since 1999 and are finally able to offer them to you through the internet. We have always been intriqued by the rich culture that is displayed in these products and want others to experience this too. All the products you see have come straight for Khan Kalili Market in Cairo. They are all handicrafted by local artisans. Khan Kalili holds the charm and mystic of the ancient Nile Valley.
Khan el-Khalili is a popular market in Cairo. Known as the Turkish bazaar during the Ottoman period, it is now usually just called the ‘Khan’.
Khan el-Khalili was built in 1382 by the Emir Djaharks el-Khalili in the heart of the Fatimid City. Together with the al-Muski market to the west, they comprise one of Cairo’s most important shopping areas. But more than that, they represent the market tradition which established Cairo as a major center of trade, and at the Khan, one will still find foreign merchants.
Perhaps, this vary market was involved in the spice monopoly controlled by the Mamluks, which encouraged the Europeans to search for new routes to the East and led Columbus, indirectly, to discover the Americas.
During its early period, the market was also a center for subversive groups, often subject to raids before the Sultan Ghawri rebuilt much of the area in the early 16th century. Regardless, it was trade which caused Cairo’s early wealth, even from the time of the Babylon fort which was often a settlement of traders.
This market is situated at one corner of a triangle of markets that go south to Bab Zuwayla and west to the area of Azbakiyyah. The Khan is bordered on the south by al-Azhar Street and on the west by the Muski Market. One of the old original gates guards the entrance to the original courtyard which lies midway down “Sikkit al-Badistan” (street).
On a narrow street leading off “Sikkit al-Badistan”, one will find the El-Fishawi Cafe, or Cafe of Mirrors, which was once a meeting place for local artists, and is still frequented by the Nobel Award winning Naguib Mahfouz, one of Egypt’s most well known authors.
Egyptian buyers generally shop in the area north of “Sikkit al-Badistan” and to the west, where prices may be lower. Better deals for gold and silver are to be found west of the Khan along the street of the goldsellers, and further on one will find the Brass and Coppersmith Markets.
We hope you can experience this ancient rich culture through our products.
