CAIRO — In the Maadi suburb of Cairo, antiques dealer Mohammad Ahmed Abu Bakr displays a collection of artistically unique doors, windows and house furniture dating back to past centuries, in addition to decorative food trays.
Abu Bakr tells Al-Monitor that for the past 30 years he has taken a keen interest in collecting old doors and special furniture pieces from destroyed houses in Cairo or outside of the capital to save them from loss, wear and tear. But he gradually shifted to trade when some people expressed their desire to buy what he collected.