The thuya wood work is an art that started many years ago in Essaouira. The artisans produce beautiful objects (chessboards, small boxes, frames…) or big pieces like tables, chest of drawers, cabinets…
These pieces are incrusted with Spanish-Moorish patterns or with geometrical designs of Muslim inspiration (the « khotta »). They obey to strict rules of composition: they are made of small squares which are placed at an equal distance from a central point.
The designs are incrusted with ebony, satinwood, mother-of-pearl, brass wire, silver and shining camel bones.
We can appreciate the work of the wood workers in the Skala workshops or in the artisan complex of Bab Marrakech, where the cooperative is situated, in the Kasbah area, near the Square Moulay Hassan.
The traditional jewellery that we can find in Essaouira represents every woman joy.
The jewellers come originally from the region of Haha and their know-how has improved thanks to the jeweller’s techniques of Fes and Souss…The production techniques, the shapes and designs have ancient traditions that are based on the rural way of living and on magic features. Some pieces of jewellery are used as amulets and talismans.
The jewellers come originally from the region of Haha and their know-how has improved thanks to the jeweller’s techniques of Fes and Souss…The production techniques, the shapes and designs have ancient traditions that are based on the rural way of living and on magic features. Some pieces of jewellery are used as amulets and talismans.
The jewellery souk is located on the large avenue of Istiqlal, next to the souk Jdid, in the centre of the medina.
The carpets represent an art, a tradition, a culture. From a region to another, their shapes change as well as the wool quality and its dyeing.
In Essaouira the carpet tradition is ancient. There is usually a central medallion around which decorative patters are spread. The wool preparation is carried out in 3 steps that we can observe on a wheel: they untangle the wool, card it and spin it. The weaving is done on the traditional weaving loom. It is at this stage that they choose the decorative patterns and the techniques they need to use.
We are talking quite rightly about « hanging carpets», normally used to cover the walls and to decorate the house.
Metal work is an ancient regional art. It includes several activities: ironwork, copperware, (speciality of Marrakesh) and weapon making. The artisans work on all different kinds of metals: silver, copper and bronze…
The beauty of iron creations is remarkable. In the souks the iron workers can create all sort of forged iron objects: candelabra, lamps, frames, folding screens….The iron workers work on request, they produce custom-tailored furniture for the pleasure of the inhabitants.
Moroccan grounds are rich in minerals, argil and fossils that constitute the raw materials for the production of beautiful pottery. The traditional pottery is made by women without the use of the wheel (speciality of the region of Taza, Rif, Haut Atlas and the South). The city pottery (for every day usage) are made on wheels by the men and then decorated with designs and patterns. We can find them pretty much in every city of the Kingdom with a recent rise in the city of Safi.
