Crafts and traditions in Morroco
The Master Tanners from Fez
The city of Fez continues to be home to some of the longest standing craft guilds in the world; animal hides are processed and dyed by master tanners and their apprentices in a lengthy labor-intensive process. Everything takes place in a courtyard. Enormous round vats, all filled with colored liquids fill up the space between the houses. Men are walking around, carrying animal skins, adding water, making colors, treating skins, putting leather into a vat here and taking it out somewhere else. To maintain bright colors, huge tubs containing a mixture of all kinds of strange animal products whose smell is unbearable. Tanneries operate in a guild system, with apprentices and master craftsmen. The people doing this work have been doing it since medieval times, and the profession is still passed from generation to generation. It is an exclusively male profession.
Argan Oil – a success story
The little village called Tamaner lays in the south of Essaouira is famous for its cooperative for processing Argan-nut for cooking and cosmetic oils. Argan tree is only to be found in Morocco and most of the production is purchased by the French. Production of Argan oil is labor intensive, with much of the process being done by hand. In this cooperative in Tamanar village, 50 ladies work full time. The co-operatives in this area have been established to give economic and social benefits to the women of this rural area, and also to preserve the ecology of the area.
Safi – the Capital of Ceramics
Morocco is world renowned for its pottery, covered with beautiful geometric, arabesque and rich patterns inspired by the Moorish and Berber culture. From large round plates with bright orange flowers to traditional tagines of cobalt blue, the intricate designs and astonishing colors make it hard to believe that most of the pieces were made by hand in a town called Safi. Outside the walls of the heart of Old Portuguese medina, Hills Potters are one of the biggest attractions of the city. The clay that is used is found in the area near Safi and so for generations it’s been the seat of the trade. All of the pieces are still made by hand and are a major source of income for the town of Safi.
Crafts and traditions in Morroco
The Master Tanners from Fez
The city of Fez continues to be home to some of the longest standing craft guilds in the world; animal hides are processed and dyed by master tanners and their apprentices in a lengthy labor-intensive process. Everything takes place in a courtyard. Enormous round vats, all filled with colored liquids fill up the space between the houses. Men are walking around, carrying animal skins, adding water, making colors, treating skins, putting leather into a vat here and taking it out somewhere else. To maintain bright colors, huge tubs containing a mixture of all kinds of strange animal products whose smell is unbearable. Tanneries operate in a guild system, with apprentices and master craftsmen. The people doing this work have been doing it since medieval times, and the profession is still passed from generation to generation. It is an exclusively male profession.
Argan Oil – a success story
The little village called Tamaner lays in the south of Essaouira is famous for its cooperative for processing Argan-nut for cooking and cosmetic oils. Argan tree is only to be found in Morocco and most of the production is purchased by the French. Production of Argan oil is labor intensive, with much of the process being done by hand. In this cooperative in Tamanar village, 50 ladies work full time. The co-operatives in this area have been established to give economic and social benefits to the women of this rural area, and also to preserve the ecology of the area.
Safi – the Capital of Ceramics
Morocco is world renowned for its pottery, covered with beautiful geometric, arabesque and rich patterns inspired by the Moorish and Berber culture. From large round plates with bright orange flowers to traditional tagines of cobalt blue, the intricate designs and astonishing colors make it hard to believe that most of the pieces were made by hand in a town called Safi. Outside the walls of the heart of Old Portuguese medina, Hills Potters are one of the biggest attractions of the city. The clay that is used is found in the area near Safi and so for generations it’s been the seat of the trade. All of the pieces are still made by hand and are a major source of income for the town of Safi.
