West Asia
Olive woodcarving
Olive wood carving art, photo: Adeeb Atwan
Olive wood carving (نحت خشب الزيتون, Nahet Khasab Al Zaytoon) utilises local raw materials to produce works of...
Mosaics
Mosaic techniques were developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia 4,000 years ago. They were coloured cones in geometric designs that were fixed and laid...
Filling sand bottles
Filling sand bottles (تعبئة زجاجات الرمل الملون, Tabe'at Zojajat Al Ramel Al Molawan) is a distinguished and unique handicraft of Jordan. It originated in...
Embroidery
Madraga, shoresh, thaob or khalaga, depend on the area, is the traditional woman’s dress in Jordan. It is black with embroidery down the front...
Ceramics
Jordan has good clay deposits and a continuous history of pottery since the Neolithic period. Traditionally, pottery is practiced across Jordan using wood kilns...
Basket weaving from banana leaves
Traditional Jordanian basketry is made from wheat straw and banana leaves. It is one one of the oldest weaving techniques and is passed down...
Tailoring
Traditionally, tailoring male and female dresses was mainly conducted by women. After finishing housekeeping, some experienced wives, mothers and daughters would sew dresses for...
Al-Sadu Weaving in Kuwait
Al-Sadu weaving is a women’s handicraft practiced mostly by the Bedouin (nomad) women of the State of Kuwait. The name of this craft originates...
Miniature Sailing Ship-Making
Making sailing ships was one of the most important handicrafts practiced in Kuwait. However, this craft has diminished and it is currently practiced...
Jewellery Hand Crafts in the State of Kuwait
Gold and silver jewellery have been admired and used by Kuwaiti women for quite a long time. As a result, jewellery crafts (Syaqah) flourished...
Blacksmithing
Blacksmithing is one of the oldest handicrafts practiced in Kuwait. Previously, this craft was much used to make and maintain all kinds of metal...
Bisht Making in Kuwait
Bisht (man’s cloak) making is considered as one of the most important living handicrafts. The traditional form is in high demand by a broad...