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Crafts

Home » Events & Programs » Annual Festivals and Events » Heritage Festival » Heritage Festival 2017 » Crafts

Crafts


   
‌Naqda

Al Naqda

Naqda is Arabic for the measuring unit of silver weight. Featured mostly in thoubs worn by women, bukhnaqs, and scarves. Naqda embroidery has a hammered appearance achieved by the khoos strands used to create the designs.
Khoos, which are thin strands of metal that come in either gold or silver, require a special needle to be pulled through cloth. Preferring tull, wale cotton, and silk chiffon, the craftswomen thread the strands through cloth to create geometrical shapes, crescents, stars, and flowery motifs.
   
   
‌Basket Weaving

Basket Weaving

Basket weavers utilize palm leaves to make several items available in Bahraini homes including the sofra dining mats, storage baskets, small dishes, hand fans and chicken coops. It is one of the most prominent crafts and is still practiced in several villages throughout the island. Basket weavers today can mainly be found in the villages of Karbabad, Jasra, and Budaiya.
   
   
‌Boat Making

Boat Making

As an island, boat making is a historic and iconic Bahraini industry. Over the centuries, Bahraini craftsmen developed a wide range of boats, each differing according to its purpose, from fishing, diving, pearling and transportation of goods and people. Made from lumber imported from India, the vessel exquisite balance in the high seas is testimony to the skill of Bahraini craftsmen.

 
   
   
‌Calligraphy

Calligraphy

As Arabic is the language of Islam and the Holy Quran, Arabic calligraphy spread collectively with the growth and spread of the Islamic Empire. In a short span of time, Muslim artisans gave it a decorative beauty that no other calligraphy in the world has achieved. Due to the Islamic influence, many non-Arabic speaking nations became (arabized) and Arabic lettering spread among them, including India, Persia, parts of China, among others.
   
   
‌Kurar

Kurar

Kurar embroidery produces beautiful ribbons of gold zeri, silver zeri and briesam, which are made by hand and used to decorate clothing. It is the result of a group effort in which the width of the final product depends on the number of women involved in the process. The Qataba sits opposite her partner, who assume the role of the Doakhil, holding and weaving several strands at a time while the Qataba guides the process and attaches the ribbon as it forms directly onto garments. While the popular kurar zeri makes an appearance in many different styles of thoub, the breisam version is reserved exclusively for men’s clothing.
   
   
‌Palm Tree Paper

Palm Tree Paper

Bahrain’s identity has always been closely tied to palm trees. As a source of food and shelter, the palm tree has always been an indispensable element in the lives of Bahrainis. In an initiative to reinterpret the use of palm leaves, Children & Mothers Welfare Society encourages the Palm Paper Workshop involved in making handmade papers, cards, notebooks and illustrations.
   
   
Traditional Chests

Traditional Chests

Still used as a decorative element in many houses, traditional chests known as Sanadeeg Mubayata,
also serve as storage for clothing and personal items. It’s appearance is distinguished by nail heads hammered into various decorative fashions. These chests are made out of real wood and are often used to present the bride with her trousseau. Storing zeri in a dark area, when not in use, helps maintain its shine and appearance. Today, several traditional chest designs have been reinterpreted and now incorporate a variety of colors.
   
   
Traditional Instruments

Traditional Instruments

Music went hand-in-hand with the longstanding pearling heritage of Bahrain, as divers used song, dance, and music to pass time aboard the dhows in their long voyages at sea. As such, the country boasts a wide range of traditional instruments, which can be viewed and purchased in this shop.
   
   
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Farmers

Since the ancient civilization of Dilmun, Bahrain has boasted a rich and unique agrarian history. This deep-rooted heritage is enriched by the abundant sweet water springs. The temperate climate and abundant natural sweet water springs, allows the farmers to grow a wide range of fruits and vegetables year round.
   
   
   

Heritage Festival 2017