Cairo, Egypt: the copycat?

_{Guanfang Hutong, Beijing}

I’ve always wondered, where did Chee Hsin Pottery get their tile patterns: their own designers, from China or elsewhere? Or hired designers outside of China. Or, copied. AND who copies/copied who?

•  On my wall

By chance, I came upon this video on YouTube posted in 2021 by Business Insider, showcasing one of a kind tiles made by four companies. The first one is a man from Cairo, Egypt – the only one that doesn’t have a website or contact info. Starting at 0:23 mark, the tile pattern is identical to Chee Hsin’s QX #115/#165.

  

So, who copies who?

Art has no borders?

I want to go to Cairo to find him, to connect with him, asking how did he come up with this design … here is my road to find this Egyptian:

1. People who made this video: one of them gave me the son’s phone #
2. the son: no reply
3. Paul J.: unable to help
4. Paul W.: no reply
5. Jodi S.: no reply
6. Gail H: doesn’t think that various people developed these designs independently
7. Jian H: her friend spoke to the son … but when I text him again, no reply again – hmmm, I may have something written on my forehead, like don’t reply to me?  -:(

What else I could do?

…

Plan to go there … revisiting Cairo? And the tour guide might know … THAT is a wishful thinking!