Yemeni Handicraft

Yemen was famous for different mineral sediments like gold, silver, iron, copper, marble, and precious stones which have been exploited in periods of history. Yemen was also famous for growing long-stable cotton and others. All these form a basis for the development of different handicrafts.
We are indebted to the scholar Al Hamadani for the detailed information about exploration of gold, silver and iron which were mentioned in his works especially the book “Al Jawharatain Al Ategatain” (Two Great Jewels) and the book “Sefat Jazerat Al Arab” (The Character of the Arabian Peninsula). For example, he mentioned the silver mine in Al Radradh “Nehm” which is called today “Al Jabali”. Modern archeological surveys revealed a system of mines of thirty tunnels. The results of radioactive carbon indicated that silver was exploited out of this place between the 6th and 9th centuries. Prepared by Abdulhakeem Taher.
It is also worth mentioning that the iron mine in Roghafah, close to Sada’a, which Al Hamadani pointed at, remained under exploitation until the 19th century. Due to the availability of different types of raw materials, it is not strange to have much evidence for the existence of handicrafts at high level of perfection. The old antiques – which trace back to pre-Islam era – reflect great architectural engineering and fine works of graving. There is much evidence in old Arabic poetry about other handcrafts like fabrics and Yemeni swords which gained great reputation during that era.
Among the well-done Yemeni architectural works, we should mention in particular the works that trace back to the Rasooli and Taheri eras. The same can be said on spinning and weaving works, mineral works, and glass and pottery works.
The rise and decline of Yemeni handicrafts relied always on the international commercial dominant status in the respective period of history. This is also indicated by the rise and decline of spinning and weaving industry and the decline of pottery industry close to Zabid city which was very famous during Islamic eras as well as the glass industry in Aden.
Handicrafts in Yemen can be divided into two types with consideration to location so we distinguish between rural and urban handcrafts. In urban centers, handcrafts are concentrated in productive areas of markets and they have high level of variety based on specialization. There is, for example, branches for welders: Sukkak (who makes metal works for doors and windows), Abbal (who is specialized in making farming tools “and sharpening or renewing used tools”, and blade-maker (who makes blades of Janbiahas). Specialization among carpenters is less clear as we find makers of Janbiah’s sheath “Aseeb”, wooden-lock-makers “wooden locker” and carpenters who make wooden combs or bird houses.
In rural areas we refer to:
First: production centers whose products supply wide demand. These centers are eye-catching in making different things that constitute the material heritage of the country. Some examples can be mentioned on this category: spinning and weaving industry in Bait Al Faqeeh, pottery centers in Sorab at Ser Valley and Maswar “Khawlan” or Azzan close to Taweilah, or the production of stone vessels in Razeh Mountain.
Second: The distinction among handicrafts in tribal areas shows co-existence of two categories: farmer handicraftsmen who are the members of the tribe specialized, in addition to farming, in certain handicrafts such as carpentry, building and welding but they do not enjoy high skills, and the handcrafts which is practiced by non-members of the tribe but they live within the tribe. The later are called “Mazaynah” and their like people are pottery makers, tanners, and weavers.
There are few Jewish people in the north of the country who work in silver industry, welding and carpentry.
There are also some handicrafts worth mentioning in rural areas; they are the home handicrafts like basket-making and embroidery which are practiced by rural women.
We notice, in general, a similarity between areas concerning the social look at handicrafts or decent jobs and indecent jobs although this look can be unusual out of the region. For example, building is considered a decent job in mountainous areas whereas in Hadramout it is the job of the socially marginalized segments: poor and vulnerable people.
We can notice different artistic styles for a handicraft. The best example is the pottery makers as in Tehamah, they use the wheel whereas in other areas, they use a mesfahah (Plural is ‘masafeh’) on a conic base ‘menta’a’, or on rotating round plates of stones or argil. The tools of the same handicraft also differ. For example, weavers use different weaving tools “Anwal” and welders in Yemen use a type of “accordion” bellows to heat the iron by blowing air and it is probable that there is a Turkish influence in this regards. In eastern areas, however, the blowing air is done through a leather air blower “menfakh”. In urban areas each team of carpenters is headed by a chief “Akhel’ who is elected by the individuals or members of the team.