Description
Hand embroidered “Jerusalem” bookmark, red on black fabric with tassel in Palestinian coloured embroidery. 23cm (27cm with tassel) x 3.5cm
Made by the Palestinian Embroidery Workshop at the Melkite Centre, Ramallah. The Melkite Palestinian Embroidery Workshop began in 1988 as a response to the desperate need of families at the outbreak of the first Intifada. Women suddenly became breadwinners as men were imprisoned, disabled or deported. Palestinian handcrafts are a symbol of the people and their striving for a normal way of life with a national identity, free of the Israeli occupation of their land. Making beautiful handcrafts gives people dignity and helps them psychologically to survive while living in extremely distressing circumstances.