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{{Short description|Handmade products of Palestine}}
{{Palestinians}}
[[File:Six cushions from Palestine.jpg|thumb|250px|Palestinian embroidery]]
'''Palestinian handicrafts''' are [[handicrafts]] produced by [[Palestinian people]]. A wide variety of handicrafts, many of which have been produced by [[Arab]]s in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] for hundreds of years, continue to be produced today. Palestinian handicrafts include [[embroidery]] work, [[pottery]]-making, [[soap]]-making, [[Glass production|glass-making]], [[weaving]], and [[olive]]-wood and [[Mother of Pearl]] carvings, among others.<ref name=Jacobs>Jacobs et al., 1998, p. 72.</ref><ref name=Karmi>[[Ghada Karmi]], 2005, p. 18.</ref> Some Palestinian cities in the [[West Bank]], particularly [[Bethlehem]], [[Hebron]] and [[Nablus]] have gained renown for specializing in the production of a particular handicraft, with the sale and export of such items forming a key part of each cities' economy.
[[File:Hebron glass II.jpg|250px|thumb|Hebron glass. circa 1960.]]
 
'''Palestinian handicrafts''' are [[handicrafts]] produced by [[Palestinian people]] or individuals. A wide variety of handicrafts, many of which have been produced by [[ArabDemographic history of Palestine (region)|Palestine's inhabitants]]s in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] for hundreds of years, continue to be produced today. Palestinian handicrafts include [[embroidery]] work, [[pottery]]-making, [[soap]]-making, [[Glass production|glass-making]], [[weaving]], and [[olive]]-wood and [[Mother of Pearl]] carvings, among others.<ref name=Jacobs>Jacobs et al., 1998, p. 72.</ref><ref name=Karmi>[[Ghada Karmi]], 2005, p. 18.</ref> Some Palestinian cities in the [[West Bank]], particularly [[Bethlehem]], [[Hebron]] and [[Nablus]] have gained renown for specializing in the production of a particular handicraft, with the sale and export of such items forming a key part of each cities' economy.
 
==Embroidery and weaving==
{{main|Palestinian costumes}}
{{further|Islamic embroidery}}
[[File:Gaza rug.jpg|thumb|left|Modern woolenWoolen rug from Gaza.]]
{{Palestinians}}
An exclusively female artistic tradition,<ref name=Pollock>Pollock and Bernback et al., 2004, p. 76.</ref> embroidery has been a key feature of traditional Palestinian costumes for hundreds of yearscenturies. Two main types of embroidery are ''[[tatreez]]'' ([[cross-stitch]] embroidery) and ''tahriri'' ([[couching]]-stitch embroidery).<ref name=Sunbula/>
 
The production of cloth for [[Palestinian traditional costumes|traditional Palestinian costumes]] and for export throughout the [[Arab world]] was a key industry of the destroyed village of [[Ashkelon#History of the modern city|Majdal]]. MajdalawiMalawi weaving, as the technique is known, is woven by a male weaver on a single treadle [[loom]], using black and indigo cotton threads combined with fuchsia and turquoise silk threads. While the village no longer exists today, the craft of Majdalawi weaving continues as part of a cultural preservation project run by the [https://atfalunacrafts.com/ Atfaluna Crafts] organization and the Arts and Crafts Village in [[Gaza City]].<ref name=Sunbula>{{cite web|title=Craft Traditions of Palestine|publisher=Sunbula|url=http://www.sunbula.org/crafttrad.shtml|accessdateaccess-date=2008-04-18 |archiveurlarchive-url = httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20080321111836/http://www.sunbula.org/crafttrad.shtml <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedatearchive-date = 2008-03-21}}</ref>
[[File:Six cushions from Palestine.jpg|thumb|left|Some examples of modern cross-stitch designs. From top left, clockwise: [[Gaza City|Gaza]], [[Ramallah]], Ramallah, [[Nablus]], [[Beit Jalla]], [[Bethlehem]].]]
An exclusively female artistic tradition,<ref name=Pollock>Pollock and Bernback et al., 2004, p. 76.</ref> embroidery has been a key feature of traditional Palestinian costumes for hundreds of years. Two main types of embroidery are ''tatreez'' ([[cross-stitch]] embroidery) and ''tahriri'' ([[couching]]-stitch embroidery).<ref name=Sunbula/>
 
Gaza itself was a center for cloth production, famous for a fine [[silk]] produced there that was known as ''gazzatum''. Imported to Europe as early as the 13th century, this fabric later gave its name to the loose weave fabric known today as [[gauze]].<ref name=Garrisonp261>Garrison, 2008, p. 261.</ref>
The production of cloth for traditional Palestinian costumes and for export throughout the [[Arab world]] was a key industry of the destroyed village of [[Ashkelon#History of the modern city|Majdal]]. Majdalawi weaving, as the technique is known, is woven by a male weaver on a single treadle [[loom]], using black and indigo cotton threads combined with fuchsia and turquoise silk threads. While the village no longer exists today, the craft of Majdalawi weaving continues as part of a cultural preservation project run by the Atfaluna Crafts organization and the Arts and Crafts Village in [[Gaza City]].<ref name=Sunbula>{{cite web|title=Craft Traditions of Palestine|publisher=Sunbula|url=http://www.sunbula.org/crafttrad.shtml|accessdate=2008-04-18 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080321111836/http://www.sunbula.org/crafttrad.shtml <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2008-03-21}}</ref>
[[File:Gaza rug.jpg|thumb|left|Modern woolen rug from Gaza.]]
Gaza itself was a center for cloth production, famous for a fine [[silk]] produced there that was known as ''gazzatum''. Imported to Europe as early as the 13th century, this fabric later gave its name to the loose weave fabric known today as [[gauze]].<ref name=Garrisonp261>Garrison, 2008, p. 261.</ref>
 
[[Bedouin]]Weaving weaving iswas traditionally carried out by [[bedouin]] women to create household items suited for the life in the desert. The thread is spun from sheep's wool, colored with natural dyes, and woven into a fabric using a ground loom and the strong fabric produced is used for tents, rugs, pillows, and other domestic items.<ref name=Sunbula/>
 
A [[Galilee]] craftsman who learned the art of straw weaving from his grandmother is showing an exhibit of ''tabaqs'' (woven trays) and other items at the [[Ein Dor]] Archaeological Museum, based on heirloom weaving techniques.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/2023-07-12/ty-article-magazine/.premium/the-man-reviving-palestinian-womens-weaving/00000189-4047-d9a2-a5af-58f781b20000 The Man Reviving Palestinian Women's Weaving], [[Haaretz]]</ref>
 
==Glass-making==
{{main|Hebron glass}}
A key [[Hebron]] industry, glass has been produced in the city since the [[Ancient Rome|Roman rule]] in Palestine.
As the quote says: "If Hebron could boast of its glass bracelets, its big he-goat skins, and its fine grapes; if Gaza was still the granary of Palestine; if Lydda was reputed for its oil markets and mat industry; Nablus could point with pride to its soap manufactories."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blog {{!}} ATF |url=https://arabthought.org/en/blog/120/preserving-heritage-exploring-the-rich-tapestry-of-traditional-palestinian-handicrafts |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=arabthought.org |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Hebron glass II.jpg|thumb|Hebron glass. circa 1960.]]
 
Hebron has continued for centuries to be considered as a center for high quality glass making.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gandy |first=Walter |title=The Romance of Glass-making: A Sketch of the History of Ornamental Glass |publisher=S.W. Partridge |year=1898}}</ref>
 
==Olive-wood carving==
{{main|Olive wood carving in Palestine}}
[[File:Olive wood camel.jpg|thumb|Olive wood camel made in Bethlehem.]]
According to the [[Bethlehem]] municipality, [[olive]]-wood carving is thought to have begun in [[Bethlehem]] in the 4th century CE, following the construction of the [[Church of the Nativity]]. At the time, [[Christianity|Christian]] monks taught how to make craft to the city's residents. Though its exact origins are obscure, one of the earliest olive-wood handicrafts were rosary beads carved from olive pits.<ref name="BM">[http://www.bethlehem-city.org/English/City/Heritage/HnadCraft.php Handicrafts: Olive-wood] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121193814/http://www.bethlehem-city.org/English/City/Heritage/HnadCraft.php |date=2007-11-21 }} Bethlehem Municipality.</ref>
 
Olive-wood is ideal for craft-making being resistant to decay and receptive to a number of surfacing treatments. The wood is usually carved using simple hand tools. Today, rough cutting is carried out using machines programmed with a design model, though fine work, such as work with facial structures, must be chiseled by hand.<ref name="BM"/>
 
Olive-wood carvings aresold largely purchased byto tourists and are important to Bethlehem's economic industry. A number of artists in the city continue to make over a thousand different crafts, such as boxes, picture frames, covers for historical and old books, candle holders, rosaries, urns, vases and [[Christmas]] ornaments. Biblical scenes depicting [[Jesus]], [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]], [[Joseph (Hebrew Bible)|Joseph]], and the three [[Magi]] are also integrated into their work.<ref name="BM"/>
 
==Mother of pearl carvings==
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==Pottery==
{{main|Palestinian pottery}}
Palestinian pottery shows a remarkable continuity throughout the ages. Modern Palestinian pots, bowls, jugs and cups, particularly those produced prior to the establishment of Israel in 1948, are similar in shape, fabric and decoration to their ancient equivalents.<ref name=Needler75>Needler, 1949, p. 75.</ref> Cooking pots, jugs, mugs and plates that are still hand-made, andare fired in openan opened, charcoal-fuelledfueled kilns/ovens as in ancient times in historic villages like [[Jib (village)|al-Jib]] ([[Gibeon (ancient city)|Gibeon]]), [[Beitin]] ([[Bethel]]) and [[Sinjil]].<ref name=PACE>{{cite web|title=PACE's Exhibit of Traditional Palestinian Handicrafts|publisher=PACE|accessdateaccess-date=2007-07-13|url=http://www.pace.ps/handi/handi.html |archiveurlarchive-url = httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20070603233539/http://www.pace.ps/handi/handi.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedatearchive-date = 2007-06-03}}</ref>
 
==Soap-making==
{{main|Nabulsi soap}}
Nabulsi soap is a type of [[castile soap]] produced only in [[Nablus]] in the [[West Bank]].<ref name=Piefza>{{cite web|title=Palestinian Industries|url=http://www.piefza.org/a_pal_industries.htm|publisher=Piefza.com|accessdateaccess-date=2008-03-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614000406/http://www.piefza.org/a_pal_industries.htm|archive-date=2007-06-14}}</ref> An [[olive oil]]-based [[soap]], it is made up of three primary ingredients: virgin olive oil, [[water]], and a [[sodium]] compound.<ref name=IMEU>{{cite web|title=Nablus' olive oil soap: a Palestinian tradition lives on|author=Michael Phillips|publisher=[[Institute for Middle East Understanding]] (IMEU)|date=March 11, 2008|accessdateaccess-date=2008-03-27|url=http://imeu.net/news/article008132.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720073112/http://imeu.net/news/article008132.shtml|archive-date=July 20, 2008}}</ref> Nabulsi workers who make the soap are proud of its unique smell, which they see as a signifier of the quality and purity of its ingredients.<ref name=SEMP>{{cite web|title=Nablus Soap: Cleaning Middle Eastern Ears for Centuries|publisher=Suburban Emergency Management Project|date=September 20, 2006|accessdateaccess-date=2008-03-27|url=http://www.semp.us/publications/biot_reader.php?BiotID=402}}</ref>
 
Long reputed to be a fine product,<ref name=SEMP/> since as early as the 10th century, Nabulsi soap has been [[export]]ed across the [[Arab world]] and even to [[Europe]].<ref name=IMEU/> Though the number of soap factories has plummeted from a peak of thirty in the 19th century to only two today, efforts to preserve this important part of [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] and Nabulsi cultural heritage continue.<ref name=IMEU/><ref name=SEMP/> Until today, in Nablus, you can find Nabulsi soap beautifully stacked into towers by street vendors, awaiting purchase.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kassis |first=Reem |title=We Are Palestinian: A Celebration of Culture and Tradition |date=2023 |publisher=Studio Press |isbn=978-1800783287}}</ref>
 
== Bamboo furniture ==
The Palestinians have a long history in creating both furniture and household objects. This skill was handed down for generations, although has dwindled in recent years. [[Bamboo]] made its way to the area from the [[Far East]] along the [[Silk Road]] and was processed by the buyers. The bamboo is boiled, scraped, burnt and then dried in order to harden it into shapes. No machines are used in the production of Palestinian furniture, it is completely man-made by between one and three men.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/04/gaza-bamboo-furniture-deteriorating-economic-crisis.html
| title = Gaza's dying bamboo crafts industry - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
| website = Al-Monitor
| date = 23 April 2015
| language = en-us
| access-date = 2016-02-28
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| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC
| title = Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia
| lastlast1 = Dumper
| firstfirst1 = Michael
| last2 = Stanley
| first2 = Bruce E.
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| language = en
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
| url = httphttps://articleswww.chicagotribune.com/1987-/12-/23/business/8704050466_1_gaza-stripcheap-arab-laborerslabor-westmay-bankprove-costly-for-israel/
| title = Cheap Arab Labor May Prove Costly For Israel
| website = tribunedigital-chicagotribune
| date = 23 December 1987
| access-date = 2016-02-28
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal
| last =
| first =
| date = 6 March 2013
| title = Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
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| department = Report on Palestine and other occupied Arab territories
| journal = Human Rights Council
| language = Englishen
| issue = 22
| doi =
| pmid =
| access-date = February 28, 2016
}}</ref>
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==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{Citecite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iFZi9EXyXrwC&pg=PA261&dq=gauze++etymology++persian&pg=PA261|title=Why You Say It|first1=Webb B.|last1=Garrison|publisher=READ BOOKS|year=2008|isbn=9781443731829|postscript=<!--None-->}}
*{{Citecite book|title=Israel and the Palestinian Territories: the rough guide|first1=Daniel|last1=Jacobs|first2=Shirley|last2=Eber|first3=Francesca|last3=Silvani|year=1998|isbn=1-85828-248-9|publisher=Rough Guides|location=London|postscripturl=<!--None-->https://archive.org/details/israelpalestinia00jaco}}
*{{Citecite book|title=In Search of Fatima: A Palestinian Story|first1=Ghada|last1=Karmi|author-link=Ghada Karmi|year=2005|publisher=[[Verso Books|Verso]]|isbn=1-85984-694-7|postscripturl=<!--None-->https://archive.org/details/insearchoffatima00karm}}
*{{Citecite book|title=Threads of Identity. Preserving Palestinian Costume & Heritage|first1=Widad Kamel|last1=Kawar|author-link=Widad Kawar|year=2011|publisher=[[Rimal Publications|Rimal]]|isbn=978-9963-610-41-9|postscript=<!--None-->}}
*{{Citecite journal|last1=Needler|first1=Winifred|author-link=Winifred Needler|year=1949|title=Palestine: Ancient and Modern|publisher=[[Royal Ontario Museum]] of Archaeology|postscript=<!--None-->}}
*{{Citecite book|title=Archaeologies of the Middle East: Critical Perspectives|first1=Susan|last1=Pollock|first2=Reinhard|last2=Bernbeck|year=2004|publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell|Blackwell Publishing]]|isbn=0-631-23001-7|postscript=<!--None-->}}
{{refend}}{{Palestine topics}}
{{Refend}}
[[Category:Palestinian handicrafts| ]]
 
[[Category:Palestinian handicrafts]]
[[Category:History of Palestine (region)]]
[[Category:Economy of the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Palestinian inventions]]