|
|
|
|
Back
|
|
|
|
|
Handicraft creations take the form of beautiful blown glass, jewelry, inlaid and engraved wooden boxes and
furniture, pottery, cutlery, fashion accessories, textiles, and embroidered clothing and linens. The colorful, blown-glass decanters, water carafes, and
glasses particular to Lebanon date back to Phoenician times. Then, as now, the skill of Phoenician glass blowers was
said by travelers of the time to rival that of Venetian craftsmen. Copper and brass smiths hammer ornate trays of varying
shapes and sizes with engraved arabesque borders. Wood workers carve intricately designed boxes and furniture
and inlay them with mother-of-pearl or small pieces of darker or
lighter wood. |
|
Ebony- and bone-handled cutlery, sometimes
carved in the shape of a firebird and vibrantly painted, originated in the town
of Jezzine in south Lebanon. The cutlery was so well regarded that it has been presented to dignitaries all over
the world, beginning with their presentation to Ottoman sultans in the 18th
century.
|
Olive oil soap, the traditional soap of Lebanon,
is increasingly popular in foreign countries. The soap is customarily made by a family member or village expert using
the olive oil produced from family trees. The soap is imprinted with the family name in Arabic or with other
symbols, indicating who the soap maker is and suggesting the quality of the olive oil used, the soap maker’s skill, or secret recipe.
The areas of Lebanon famous for olive oil soap production include Koura,
Hasbaya, Sidon (Saida) and the Chouf.
However, olive oil soap can be purchased in small stores or souqs (outdoor markets) all over the country.
The soap is entirely natural, pure, and has unparalleled moisturing qualities.
According to Lebanese tradition, olive oil soap is a cure-all for countless
ailments, from balding, to dandruff, to eczema!
|
|
|
|
|
Different regions of Lebanon specialize in the production of different handicrafts. So, you should be sure to inquire about the local specialty when visiting a different
region. In Beirut, you can find traditional products from all over the country at private artisanat shops,
such as L'Artisan du Liban (on Rue Clemenceau near the Gefinor Center)
and at the Ministry of Culture hosted shop, la Maison de l'Artisan (at
the eastern end of the Corniche in Ain Mreisseh). Definitely explore the souqs in Tyre and
Tripoli, and inquire about specialty shops wherever you go on your journey
through Lebanon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
