Pierced brass/copper lamp or tray, Khan el-Khalili

Cairo's coppersmiths have hammered lamps on the same street for 700 years — workshop prices before the 4-6x import markup lands on the same lamp in a Western boutique.

Price: 2500 EGP (Honest settled range E£1,200-5,000 (~US$25-100) for a genuine hand-pierced hanging lamp depending on size; hand-engraved trays E£800-3,000)

Where to buy: The coppersmiths' section off Al-Muizz Street and Khan el-Khalili, Cairo — listen for the hammering

Price checked 2026-07-03

• Hand-pierced vs stamped: handwork shows slightly irregular hole spacing and hammer marks inside; stamped Indian/Chinese imports are perfectly regular and lighter
• Magnet test: brass and copper are non-magnetic — a magnet that sticks means plated steel
• Full haggle protocol: 30-50% of the opening quote is the real price
• Ask them to wire it for your country's voltage or just buy it candle-style; pack in checked luggage