Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Traditional Crafts
Walk the streets of Madaba, with bright col-
oured kilims flapping in the wind, hike to the
soap-making villages of Ajloun, or watch eld-
erly Bedouin women threading beads at Petra,
and the country's strong handicraft tradition is
immediately apparent. The authorities have
been quick to support this aspect of Jordan's
heritage and now craft cooperatives are widespread, resulting in benefits for local com-
munities and ensuring that Jordan's rich legacy of craft endures for future generations.
Traditional handicrafts in Jordan are not designed to be viewed in a museum, but to be
bought and bartered over. Jordan's position at the crossroads of numerous caravan routes
throughout the ages has made craft, the most practical and portable of all the arts, into a
currency of mutual, practical benefit.
For the visitor who chooses the right outlets, there is a special pleasure in buying
something handmade, practical and aesthetically pleasing from Jordan as the craftsperson
earns money that directly benefits his or her community. Taking an interest in the crafts of
Jordan, then, is not a remote aesthetic exercise. It represents sustainable tourism at its best.
Fine examples of Bedouin jewellery, Jordanian
crafts and traditional costumes are on display at the
Folklore Museum and Museum of Popular Tradi-
tions at the Roman Theatre in Amman.
Made in Jordan
Weaving
Jordan has a long-established rug-making in-
dustry dating back to the country's pre-Islamic,
Christian communities.
Mafrash
(rugs) are usu-
ally of the flat, woven kind, compared with car-
pets that have a pile. To this day, especially in
Madaba and Mukawir, it's possible to watch
kilims being made that are based on early Byz-
antine designs. Even if you hadn't intended to buy one of these woollen rugs, you'll find it
impossible not to get carried away by the enthusiasm of the carpet vendors, who will good-
naturedly unfurl all their rugs for you without much prospect of a sale.
The cost of a kilim (anywhere between JD50 and
JD500) depends on whether natural vegetable dyes
are used, the length, thickness of thread, intricacy
of pattern and age of the rug - the older the better.
