Global Arab Network | Mosaic Handicraft - A Deep-Rooted Syrian Art

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Mosaic Handicraft - A Deep-Rooted Syrian Art

Global Arab Network - - Hannan Taha

Thursday, 10 June 2010 16:43

Mosaic_Handicraft_-_A_Deep-Rooted_Syrian_Art

Syria (Damascus) - Syria has been famous for mosaic handicraft since very ancient times as walls of the mosques, churches and palaces were decorated with mosaic paintings dating back to several historical stages.

The Syrian mosaic has been always known as 'the art of eternity' as it passed through several prosperous stages. Syria was a gate through which mosaic handicraft spread across the world.

Craftsman Khaldoun al-Msouti said that the original Syrian mosaic was made of marble while during the reign of the Byzantine Empire, craftsmen used molten glass.

He indicated that a number of professional craftsmen are trying to revive this deep-rooted Syrian art, asserting that foreign and Arab tourists are very interested in buying the unique mosaic products as there are several mosaic shops in America, Canada, Europe and Australia in addition to the Arab countries.

Al-Msouti added that mosaic is a very difficult handicraft; it needs patience and relentless work, indicating that the price of any mosaic piece is not less than SP 5, 000 (USD100) for each 1 square meter.

"The mosaic is sold as artistic paintings with very high prices in Europe," he said.

He added that mosaic paintings differ according to craftsmanship and preciseness and their prices differ according to the number of pieces they consist of, pointing out that mosaic paintings are used to decorate the walls and floors of houses, hotels and worship places.

Mosaic handicraft is an important source of outcome and one of the most important handicrafts that could be further developed, particularly due to the popularity and increasing demand for mosaic by Arab and foreign tourists which caused the craft to flourish, producing captivating masterpieces of impeccable precision and beautiful design.

Another type of mosaic is wood mosaic. The main body and structure of the mosaic pieces is made of beech or walnut wood. The handicraft uses various types of colored wood to make the veneer, such as rosewood, eucalyptus, walnut, almond and lemon wood, in addition to seashells which are imported from Asia.

The veneers are made by cutting square or triangular pieces of wood into thin layers that are cut into smaller pieces in various shapes and then glued on the piece's body. Hand-crafted mosaics may take more than two months to make.(SANA)

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