Palestinian olivewood crafts The olive tree has always appeared as a sacred and respected tree through history. An old Jewish law forbade the destruction of the olive tree. In the Book of Judges, scriptures claim that this tree was held to be supreme above all the others. The Book of Genesis reports that after the great flood, a dove brought back an olive branch. That representation has become the symbol of nonviolence and peace. Olivewood handcrafted art began in Bethlehem in the fourth century AD following the building of the Church of Nativity. This indigenous form of art has since become an important industry for residents of the Bethlehem area, since more than 60 percent of local employment comes from making olivewood crafts. The area is currently suffering from many economic losses due to political and military tensions causing an outward migration o population and a sharp decline of tourism. Despite everything, some artisans stay and continue practicing this ancestral work, passed out from generation to generation. This is the true for the Odeh Factory. Created in 1983 by Ibrahim Odeh, the Odeh Factory started in a modest room workshop. In order to preserve the beauty and the spiritual depth of the past, the family “recipe” has been handed down from father to son. Odeh has been a pioneer in this type of craftsmanship, and has earned a reputation for producing products with quality, elegance and style. Fortified by success, the factory has grew and includes 10 professional olivewood craftsmen today. The tradition of crafting in olive wood is unique to Palestinians, where pure olive wood is a piece of the ancient past as much as it is a promise of a better future. Their products have made way to several international exhibitions and are now being shared in United-States through Friends of the Third World. friendsofthethirdworld.org/ #olivewoodcrafts #palestinehandicrafts
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:26:05 +0000
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