STORY
Artisans
Moataz and Ossama specialise in mother of pearl inlay and have spent the last 20 years mastering their craft. In 2011 after moving from Syria, they set up a workshop together in Amman in order to continue their work.
Moataz and Ossama feel that they are the last generation of artisans in the region to practise this art and are motivated to train a young generation of practitioners.
Mother of Pearl
Traditional Mother of Pearl inlay can be found in the Islamic world as far back as the 9th century. Many artisans specialize in a single step in the inlay process, meaning that one inlaid piece can involve multiple people. In Jordan, many of those who practice this craft are originally from Damascus.
Turquoise Mountain
The crafts skills of the Levant have been endangered by regional instability. Turquoise Mountain aims to train a new generation of Syrian and Jordanian artisans, creating a new generation of craftsmen equipped to maintain these important cultural traditions.
