HANDICRAFTS

A visit to Jordan is certainly incomplete without an introduction to its rich legacy of ancient handicrafts. Traditional handicrafts in Jordan have been passed down over many generations, from a time when all Jordanians met their domestic needs by weaving their own rugs and making their own earthenware vessels and utensils. An impressive cultural melange of Arab and Islamic imagery is reflected in Jordanian crafts, which include beautiful handmade glass, handy earthenware vessels, skillful basket and carpet weaving, and exquisite embroidery. Crafts produced on a smaller scale include artistically decorated sand bottles, finely chiseled sculptures, and uniquely crafted silver jewelry. During the past century or so, Jordanian crafts have benefited from the skills and influences of other diverse cultural traditions. Palestinians forced from their lands during the 1948 and 1967 wars brought their artistic heritage with them, as did Circassians and Armenians who sought refuge in Jordan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.