Hi Riva,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Ramses Wissa Wassef (1911–1974) was an Egyptian architect and artist — trained in Paris, but deeply committed to traditional craftsmanship and local culture. In 1951–1952 he founded the Wissa Wassef Art Centre (sometimes “Wissa Wassef Art School” / Atelier) in the village of Harrania (near Giza, Egypt). His guiding philosophy was that “every individual — child or adult, regardless of background — possesses innate creative potential.” Rather than imposing formal art‑training or rigid patterns, he created an environment of freedom, trust and self‑expression. Wassef’s ambition was not just to produce beautiful objects — but to revive traditional crafts, reconnect people with their heritage, and empower marginalized rural communities.

The textiles traditionally associated with the Wissa Wassef atelier are hand‑woven on simple looms (not industrial machines), using wool or cotton yarn. Of crucial importance was that weavers — often children or villagers with no prior formal art background — created the tapestries directly from their imagination and did not use pre-drawn designs or patterns but decided colors, subjects and forms spontaneously, with imagery depicting scenes of rural Egyptian daily life, animals, birds, plants and folkloric motifs.

As such, no two are "exactly alike," though others of similar size to this and with comparable pictorial composition (but of better condition) have sold at auction recently for between $5,000 and $7,000 though it's worth noting that retail and private sellers will be asking more for ones sold in a gallery or on online platforms.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A vintage Wissa Wassef hand-loomed tapestry panel
second half 20th Century
Depicting a lush landscape on a yellow ground with three large trees and smaller trees and shrubs in the foreground, with birds and a rhinoceros, signed lower right.
112 by 84 inches
CONDITION: With some staining and losses long the lower edge
PROVENANCE: Unknown
$ 3,500-5,500*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia