Palestinian Ceramics: Armenian Tiles, Hebron Pottery and Gaza Clay
Walk through Jerusalem's old city and you will notice painted tiles everywhere: on street signs, above doorways and on shop fronts. They belong to a ceramic tradition that mixes local clay, Ottoman tile art and the skills of Armenian families who arrived just over a hundred years ago.
The tiles of the Dome of the Rock
In the 16th century, the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent had the outer walls of the Dome of the Rock covered in glazed tiles in blues, greens and white. Over the centuries, sun and rain wore many of them down, and repairs became a constant task.
Armenian potters in Jerusalem
In 1919, master potter David Ohannessian and a group of Armenian craftsmen from Kütahya, in today's Turkey, came to Jerusalem to work on those tiles. They stayed and founded workshops of their own. Family names such as Balian and Karakashian became known for hand-painted bowls, plates and tiles with cypress trees, birds, vines and pomegranates, often in cobalt blue and turquoise. Several of these studios are still run by descendants today.
Hebron's painted pottery
Hebron, already famous for its blown glass, is also a centre for ceramics. Its workshops throw plates, bowls, jugs and vases, then paint them by hand with flowers, birds and geometric patterns before glazing and firing. You will find them in markets across the West Bank and in many Palestinian homes in Britain.
Gaza's dark clay
Gaza has its own pottery tradition, known for its dark grey and black clay pots. The colour comes from the local clay and the way the pots are fired. Potter families in Gaza City made water jars, cooking pots and planters for generations.
Village pottery
Long before glazed tiles, many villages made simple hand-built pottery. Women shaped jars, bowls and bread trays from local clay without a wheel and fired them in open fires, often decorating them with red and brown lines.
Bringing a piece home
Palestinian ceramics are easy to spot once you know the patterns. A painted bowl or tile makes a lasting gift, and many small makers and fair trade shops in the UK sell pieces from the West Bank.
Our Free Palestine design is simple and bold: the letters FRE with a small Palestinian flag completing the word, and Palestine spelled out beneath.
FAQ
+Why are there Armenian ceramics in Jerusalem?
Armenian potters came to Jerusalem in 1919 to repair the tiles of the Dome of the Rock and then set up their own workshops.
+What motifs are used in Armenian ceramics?
Common motifs include cypress trees, birds, vines, pomegranates and flowers, often in cobalt blue and turquoise.
+Is Hebron known for pottery?
Yes. Alongside glass, Hebron workshops make hand-painted plates, bowls and vases.
+What is Gaza pottery like?
Traditional Gaza pottery is made from dark grey to black clay, used for water jars, cooking pots and planters.
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