Classification of Handicrafts and Traditional Industries in Saudi Arabia
In some countries, handicrafts and traditional industries are classified according to the geographical distribution of the regions. In other countries, they are classified according to the type of raw materials. Also, there are other classifications based on customs and population density in the regions. The classification according to raw material is considered the best one in the Kingdom. Such classification is as follows:
· Handicrafts and traditional industries that are made of botanical raw materials.
· Handicrafts and traditional industries that are made of animal-derived raw materials
· Handicrafts and traditional industries that are made of metallic raw materials
· Handicrafts and traditional industries that are made of complementary sources.
· Handicrafts and traditional industries that are considered an occupation to improve the industry of a craft product or service.
· Handicrafts and traditional industries that have food products
The classification of handicrafts according to raw materials in the KSA is explained as follows:
First: Types of crafts and traditional industries that are made of botanical raw materials
They embrace everything made of various trees and plants or flora products. They include the following industries:
1. Carpentry and Hand-made Wooden Products:
Carpentry is practiced in most regions of the Kingdom since it is linked to several important economic and social activities in the society. Such products include wooden doors in various sizes and shapes, wooden windows, boxes, and containers, in addition to wooden decorative products, and the like.
2. Palm Frond Industry Products:
The industry of palm frond products depends mostly on palm trees and rush plant that grow in water canals in some regions of the Kingdom. Women are mostly the ones who practice this craft for several reasons such as the easiness of practicing such craft, which relies to a large extent on hand movements rather than the usage of some equipment and tools, and the easiness of obtaining its related raw materials. The most important palm frond products are: Al-Sufra (a mat that you put under the hot dish), suit bags with different shapes and sizes, hats, Al-Zinbil (a kind of big baskets), hand fans, brooms, and Al-Hasir (a mat that covers part of the floor).
3. Cages Craft:
This industry often depends on bare palm branches and pieces of wood resulting from pruning the trees that are made ready for use. Then, the artisan cuts the sticks or the palm branches into specific measurements so as to be made in sizes suitable for use, such as for storing dates, figs and other fruits and vegetables. Also, the cages can be used for raising birds, poultry and rabbits.
4. The Fiber Products Craft:
Fiber is extracted from palm trees and from barks of huge trees. After, it is processed in water and cleaned from dust; it is made into twists similar to rope products that have multi-uses, such as decoration and art works. Some artisans make bags, baskets, and other fiber containers.
5. Al-Hasir (a mat that covers part of the floor) and Al-Midad Industry:
Al-Hasir is made of rush plants that grow in water canals. Rush plants are cut, collected and made by hand weaving in order to use it as mosque and house mats. Al-Hasir can be also made of palm fibers that are twisted into thin ropes; then they are used with bare palm branches to make partitions in large areas inside the houses and in some public facilities.
6. Herbs and Aromatic Plants Craft and Industry:
Aromatic plants include various types such as basil, rue, mint, pandanus tectorius, and roses ... etc. They are made into packages of various sizes and they are used either in fresh or a dried form. They are also sold in traditional markets, and used in national events, weddings, holidays, when visiting sick people, on Fridays, and other events.
7. Al-Qilafa Craft - Wooden Ships and Boats Industry
This craft is practiced mostly in coastal areas, and it faces competition from boats made of fiber and plastic. Such craft can be activated by making mini-models of boats to meet the requirements of the tourism sector or to be displayed in museums.
Second: Types of crafts and traditional industries that are made of animal-derived raw materials
They involve everything made of animal nutritive and non-nutritive products; They include the following industries:
1. Leather Products Industry :
Leather products craft depends on the leather that has been tanned. Then, it is cut by scissors to make shapes of containers, bags, belts, and other leather products.
2. The Shoemaking Craft
Hand-made shoes depend on using leather as a basic raw material for making shoes multiple sizes and designs. The artisan needs some tools that would help him in cutting, hammering, and equalizing the shoe.
3. The Textile Craft – Al-Sadu Industry
Sheep's wool or camels' hair are the main source in the textile industry which varies according to their uses. The most important products include: tents, hand-made carpets, bedspreads, bags in multiple sizes and others.
4. Industry of making ’Al- Bisht’ (a kind of cloaks worn by men over their clothes)
It is one of the best crafts. That is because Al-bisht is worn in a certain way which gives whoever is wearing it a form of prestige and dignity, especially during the national events, religious or social occasions such as weddings, celebrations, and others.
5. ‘Al-Iqal’ Craft (a black double-coiled cord circlet to be worn by men over the ghutra to hold it in place)
Despite the simplicity of producing Al-iqal, it requires great skill from its craftsman. It depends on the thread that is twisted in a certain way and in multiple sizes so as to be worn over the man's head as a complementary part of his character in addition to holding the Shomag’ (a piece of cloth) on the head .
6. Animal Products Craft
It includes bones, horns, hooves, and some teeth and other parts of animals that can be used. For example, the bones of animals, namely camels, can be transformed into craft products which can be used as innovative models for the persons who wish to acquire them.
Third: Types of crafts and traditional industries that are made of metallic raw materials
It embraces all what is made of natural and mineral materials, which are found underground, and the industrial products like iron, aluminum, tin, and others that are cut and restructured. It includes the following handicrafts and industries;
1. Pottery and Ceramics
This Industry depends on various types of clay which is filtered of impurities and then mixed with water for a certain period of time. After that, it is made through a wheel that is moved by using the legs and using the hands for forming pottery products like large jars, vases, and others.
2. Stone Products
This industry depends on specific types of stones available in nature. These stones are carved and utilized in making stony stockpots and plates and others, for example.
3. Gemstones Industry
It is apparent from its name that this industry depends on specific types of stones available in nature. Products of this industry include beautiful-looking stones of rings and others.
4. The Industry of Gypsums
This Industry is an extension of limestone’s manufacturing (calcareous stones) that is used in beautifying building facades. Gypsum is extracted from specific quarries then collected, mixed and burnt in ovens for a certain period of time. Later, it is formed into panels that are decorated and engraved and made then ready to place them on facades and roofs.
5. Handmade Silver Jewelry and Silver works
Silver works and silver jewelry take a variety of forms and require high-level of skill, accuracy and patience in using helping tools for decorating and engraving silver products such as, rings, necklaces, chains, and others.
6. Swords and Daggers Industry (Janbiya’s)
Swords and daggers are made of iron pieces that are hammered, burnt, threaded, fined, and then polished . Finally, they have handles attached on them and then they are put in their sheaths. In addition, they are among the products that the men feel proud of wearing them in some regions.
7. Blacksmithing
This industry includes cutting, hammering and forming the iron into irony products for use purpose. It also depends on a blower that lights fire and coal with some needed tools for making irony products. This industry requires patience and caution since it can be very dangerous. Examples of its products are: axes, sickles, stockpots, and many irony vessels used for home or agricultural purposes.
8. Hand-Plumbing
The plumbing craft is not complex since it depends on re-cutting and re-forming light sheets of metal and making them into plumbing products such as bowls, kettles, boxes for saving documents and others.
9. The ‘dallah’ craft (a kettle for making Arabic coffee)
The dallah is distinguished for being a very traditional product in most Saudi houses. Also, it suffers competition from other kettles made by machines; however, it remains one of the most famous traditional containers. Artisans make it by a way of hammering and hollowing out the kettle and making a handle and an opening to pour the coffee. The most famous dallah is yellow one.
10. The Making of Copper Utensils
This craft includes all types of copper utensils either pots, dishes, or containers used for storing foods, liquids and others.
Fourth: Types of crafts and traditional industries that are made of complementary sources
It includes all what is made of various products with some of its parts are derived from animal or plant sources or a combination or other sources available in nature. Also, it may be an activity or a craft product. It involves the following crafts and industries:
1. ‘Mabkhara’ (Wooden Incents Burners)
This Industry depends on wood that is cut into short panels that are not more than 30 cm. long. It is hollowed from the top. Then, it is wired from the sides and hollowed from its middle-lower part. After that, it is engraved to suit the handle with being attached to its lower part to be the base of the burner. Then, its corners are covered with metal sheets. The sides are decorated with mirrors and fixed into place by metal buttons. Rush and sedr tree woods are considered the best timbers for making incense burners in the Kingdom.
2. ‘Tasfeed’ Craft – (Swords and Daggers or Janbiya’s Sheath Industry)
The industry of Tasfeed or the so-called the industry of swords and daggers’ sheaths is related to making swords or daggers, which are the main product. This craft requires high-level of skill in fixing in place the metal sheets that are coated with silver or gold. The sheath is also tied by metal wires by pulling and fixing between the metal sheets.
3. The Maintenance of Shotguns and their butt
This industry is divided into maintenance-works for the shotguns used in shooting and hunting and all works related to fixing some of the rifle's internal parts and weight. The other part of this industry is all that is related to the external structure of the shotgun including fixing its stand or engraving the wood that is considered the external component of shotgun structure.
4. Crocheting and Bookbinding Craft
The objective of this craft is to keep books and documents from damage. The artisan needs certain threads and specific skills.
Fifth: Types of crafts and traditional industries that are functional and can be used in developing a handicraft product or service
It embraces the types of crafts and traditional industries that are functional and can be used in manufacturing a handicraft product or service. It includes the following;
1. Tanning Leather
The craft of tanning is one of the most popular crafts that use animal sources. Nomad women practice this crafts most often. Tanning is done by soaking the leather in salt for a period of time. Then, it is rubbed with sand and cleaned from hair . Lastly, it is tanned with a ground mixture of grapevine and pomegranate peel. This process shall be repeated with being stirred, ventilated, and cleaned. Then, its parts are tied so that it can be used as a bota bag to storing water or ghee.
2. Sewing and Hand Embroidery
Sewing and hand embroidery are among the aesthetic crafts. Such craft is practiced by sewing and embroidering a white cloth with artistic drawings that add to the beauty of the product. It is an inexpensive craft in regard to its raw materials, but it requires an aesthetic sense for the craftsmen who practice it.
3. Craft of Squeezing and Extraction of Sesame oil
The significance of this craft is clear from the importance of sesame oil for food and health purposes. The way of extraction is done by collecting sesame seeds in a wooden cone vessel which has a huge wooden dowel installed in the middle. The wooden dowel has its end attached to the struts installed over a camel which moves in a circular way around the wooden cone. These circular movement leads to withdrawing the wood that mashes the sesame seeds resulting in oil. Then, the oil collected in glass bottles and offered for sale in the market.
4. The Craft of Shearing and Spinning Wool and Hair
Fleecing is a craft in which sheep wool and goat hair is cut with scissors for a number of reasons. For example, it can be used in the industries, or spun and twisted in wool threads that can be used in making carpets, cloths, or quilts and more.
5. Oud Oil Industry (Agra wood)
This craft is done by mixing various amounts of Agra wood by grating it and then cooking it in a distillation device for a period that is estimated by the amount of Agra wood. Later, the liquid is condensed and left to cool. When the oil is separated from water, it is poured in glass containers and the result is called oud oil.
6. The Industry of flower oil and the Extraction of flower Water
Industry of flower oil is similar to the industry of oud (Agra wood) oil which are both done by distillation and filling. However, flower oil relies on natural flowers that are picked off the trees the early morning. The reason for doing so is that the proportion of oils that emit smells start to decline after sunrise. After the collection of flowers, they are cooked, condensed and distilled in glass bottles specific for flower water and other containers for flower oil.
7. The industry of Tar Extraction
The industry of tar extraction has a particular importance because of its usage in treating certain skin diseases and some ulcers in humans and animals. In addition, it is used in coating wooden doors to protect them from cracking and to keep them resistant to decay. It is made by collecting sticks of medium moisture, then placing them in a closed vessel above high heat for three hours so that the wood’s smoke would condense and turn into a liquid tar that is collected in glass or metal containers. Tar has three degrees of viscosity: light, medium and heavy with each type has its own uses.
8. Building by Using Stone or Mud or Both – hand-made ways
It includes many forms and architectural patterns of stone or mud building - whether it is for the building as a whole or some parts of it.
9. Calligraphy Craft
Calligraphy is distinguished for the impressive view of its final product represented in majestic artistic paintings that are displayed in palaces or mosques. This craft requires an artistic skill and ability of handwriting to whom is practicing it.
10. Drawing, Inscription and Decoration
The craft of drawing, inscription and decoration is one of the crafts known for their various applications. They can be applied in decorating on minerals, gypsum, stone or paper and then colored with appropriate colors.
11. Hand-made Wax Industry
It depends on melting wax and forming it into a variety of artistic products used for decoration. This craft relies on artistic sense that is reflected in the bright colors of wax products.
12. Cotton Carding
The craft of cotton carding is related to the old cotton found inside furnishings in which it is teased, patted, cleaned from dust, and covered with a new clean cloth in order to re-use the old cotton.
13. Stamps Craft
The industry of stamps is one of the oldest crafts in the Kingdom. Yet, it started to fade since modern technology has emerged and people learned reading and writing.
14. Dyeing Craft
What is usually meant by the craft of dyeing is dyeing white fabrics to with other colors. This process is done by soaking and moving them in a bowl that has the die. After that, they are dried, cut and twined into a form of cloth pieces and then they are colored. This craft also includes dyeing threads with colors then twined into circular balls.
Sixth: Types of crafts and traditional Industries that have food products
It embraces the types of crafts and traditional industries that have food products. It includes the following;
1. Hand-made Confectionery
Confectionary industry is a wide-spread craft in Saudi houses in most regions of the Kingdom. Also, it is widely practiced during special occasions and the holy month of Ramadan. It is a mixture of sugar, oil, flour, molasses, coconut, pistachios and many nuts that are cooked for a certain period of time and then formed into a variety of shapes and given multiple names. Then, they are served on plates of many sizes and offered for sale.
2. The Industry of ‘Eq’t’ (dehydrated yogurt)
This craft is mostly practiced by nomads who are livestock breeders. The ‘Eq’t’ or dehydrated yogurt is the extra amount of sour milk which is dried by boiling, then it is divided into small circular shapes. After that, it is placed in containers and offered for sale .
4. The Industry of Dates Molasses
This industry is mostly practiced by farm owners. Dates molasses is made by storing dates by compressing or pressing and sometimes by boiling them. This process results in sugar syrup called "molasses". Then, it is poured into glass or plastic containers and used as food or as a local element in the traditional cuisines. It also has many other uses.
5. Honey Industry
This industry is mostly practiced by beekeepers in the farms or some valleys where there are forests of thick trees such as sedr, acacia tortilis and other wild trees. Honey is then collected in special ways practiced by beekeepers then it is poured in containers and offered in the markets.
6. The Industry of Gum and Secretions of trees
It is a viscous liquid extracted from the outer leachate emerging from the frankincense tree stem or some wild trees such as acacia and sedr. The liquid is dried and separated into small pieces. Then, it is offered for sale.