In the large, bustling market in Bab El Khalk, a unique collection of fawanees, or Ramadan lanterns, is bound to capture the attention of every shopper and every passerby. Among the traditional metal and glass fawanees, and the gimmicky plastic versions imported from China, a collection of uniquely crafted wooden lanterns stands out. The wooden frames are clad in khayimaya style material, topped with a crescent, allowing the light to subtly glow through patterned slits. These fawanees proved, more than any of the others, that the typical Ramadan lanterns can be used as permanent decorative items in your home. Designed by carpenter Khaled Ali, the wooden fanous - covered in the colorful material used for making traditional tents and others often used in making beach chairs and parasols - is selling well. The reason? No one has ever been inventive enough to make a fanous out of wood, and although Ali doesn't own a workshop, choosing to work from his home instead, he has managed to stand out in a competitive market. "It all started when I began to think about producing wooden items that would beam the light from behind the designs cut on wood, said Ali. "As I did, I thought of tables, vases and lampshades. Ramadan was approaching and I said to myself 'Why shouldn't I make Ramadan lanterns instead of lampshades? added the craftsman. He continued: "The first collection - which consisted of three pieces - was seen by some Kuwaiti nationals. Because they liked the lanterns they bought them immediately and commissioned me to produce another half a dozen. From a technical standpoint, producing the wooden fanous is in itself a challenge, as not any kind of wood can be formed into these shapes. Ali uses thin layers of fiber wood that are better suited for pasting the khayimaya material, something which distinguishes his lanterns. If used with other types of wood, the material could form threads and spoil the shape. After pasting the material, the carpenter fixes the pieces to each other using small nails. One look at the design of each chunk of wood is enough to tell you how much time and workmanship went into the finished product. The prices of Ali's lanterns range from LE 90 to LE 150. "I charge more for special orders. The tallest fanous I have made was three-and-a-half meters high and cost LE 800. Another, which was two-and-a-half meters, was sold for LE 500. He also tried his hand at making small lanterns, but these proved more difficult than the bigger ones. "I made some and they were sold out. You can't offer each for more than LE 10, which is not commensurate with the effort and cost. The bigger pieces are definitely more lucrative, said Ali. When not in use, the wooden fanous, like any wooden item, should be properly stored and covered with nylon, Ali recommended. "The durability of my fawanees is incomparable with metal lanterns. One time, a client came back to the store carrying a lantern he had bought from me. The fanoos had fallen from the fourth floor, but it remained almost intact. Only the top broke. Ali is permanently looking to expand his business and create other wooden items that can be used in homes. In a highly competitive market, anyone who successfully creates an innovative edge is bound to draw attention. Unfortunately, that means imitators as well. Ali is seeking the services of an expert to help him register his wooden famous at the intellectual property rights office.
