Home          Mosques          Muslim Heritage          Personalities          Travel         Contact Us


Glass and Ceramic making in Hebron

Inside the Factory

Glass and ceramic making in Hebron’s Old City is taking place in a quarter named the “Glass-Blower Quarter” and it continues to serve as a tourist attraction. The complex process of making glass and ceramics involves various skills and techniques. A heated kiln is used for the glass production. The process to make a single piece takes almost one week. 
One super heated, then glass is molded with clamps and claws to get the desired shape. After working on the glass for few minutes, it goes back into the oven to re-heat it for further blowing and molding. First the clay is put on a pottery wheel and shaped by hand. The next day, after it has dried, the edges are smoothed by hand using water and a sponge.

A Palestinian working at a glass and ceramic making factory in Hebron - West Bank
A Palestinian working at a glass and ceramic making factory in Hebron - West Bank
Now super heated glass is molded with clamps and claws
Now super heated glass is molded with clamps and claws
Then it is placed back into the oven to re-heat it for further blowing and molding
Side view of the kiln which was being used for the glass and ceramic production
Side view of the kiln which was being used for the glass and ceramic production
Different models for clay objects are stacked together
Different models for clay objects are stacked together
It was a small business but employing many locals - Glass and Ceramic making in Hebron
It was a small business but employing many locals - Glass and Ceramic making in Hebron
Inside of the glass and ceramic making factory in Hebron
Few fans were running to keep air flowing inside the factory
Here different objects made with clay are ready for painting
Here different objects made with clay are ready for painting

Ceramics

Different bowls, plates and trays are made with clay then workers paint them with different colours to create designs. In order to glaze them, these plates go inside the oven once more. Even in November, it was very hot in the factory. That’s why there were few fans running to keep things cool. 
It requires lots of patience and skills to deign products. These traditional methods which have been passed on to them from their ancestors. Once ready, these beautiful vases, plates and cups go on shelves of the shop for sale. On the shelves, some products were made out of the wood, I presume they were bought from other shops.

A worker is busy painting/colouring a decoration piece
A worker is busy painting/colouring a decoration piece
Some of the already finsihed products are in the shelves but they are not glazed yet
Some of the already finsihed products are in the shelves but they are not glazed yet
Now, all of the workers are having their lunch - they were kind enough to invite me a lunch as well which I politely declined
Now, all of the workers are having their lunch - they were kind enough to invite me a lunch as well which I politely declined
Here plates are placed inside the oven in order to get them glazed
Here comes the beautiful "End Product"
Beautiful vases, plates and cups on shelves inside a shop in Hebron
Beautiful vases, plates and cups on shelves inside a shop in Hebron
Items on display inside the factory shop - Glass and ceramic making in Hebron
Items on display inside the factory shop - Glass and ceramic making in Hebron
Though I am not a shopper but I bought one plate as a souvenir
Though I am not a shopper but I bought one plate as a souvenir
Hebron's ceramics and glassware on display
Hebron's ceramics and glassware on display
These products are made out of wood
These products are made out of wood