Blown Glass

Blown glass, a very ancient technique, is the oldest among the handicrafts. The glassmaker blows air into the hot molten glass and the art of transformation into attractive shapes begins. Several techniques are witnessed in the blown glass; some are given a certain opaque quality that comes from little bubbles of air in the glass, others instead of being opaque are very clear and without bubbles. Glassmakers create many shapes and colors as water glasses, wineglasses, beer mugs, water pitchers, vases, candle sticks, bowls, jugs and ashtrays.

Weaving

Weaving played an important role in Lebanon's modern history and country's economy to the extent that the first three Lebanese flags were woven. In weaving many methods are used. Some use their horizontal looms to create tablemats, little silk bags, jackets, abayas and caftans in wool decorated with motifs. Others use vertical looms to create tents and carpets from goat hair or sheep's wool. They also make cushions and bedside rugs that village girls collect for their trousseaux.

Pottery

The beginning of pottery is lost in the haze of time. In Lebanon, whether dyed with yellow or gray, found on the coast or in the mountain, wherever man found clay he discovered how to give it form with his hands. Some create reddish brown soup bowls, platters and plates. Others create the meter-high jars that are used for conserving provisions as olive oil, vinegar, arak or preserved meat. In other pottery workshops, they create complete table service sets including coffee or tea sets, bowls, wine glasses, mezze plates or spouted water jars used to cool water at any hour or season.

Basket Making

A very old craft, weaving baskets, mats and prayer rugs has been an art of Lebanon's rural villagers for centuries. The main components are reeds and palm leaves. Reeds, which grow along most of Lebanon's rivers, are used for basketry. These baskets are useful for fruits and vegetables. Other reeds are woven into mats of variegated colors or into large attractive trays. Palm leaves in the old days were woven into balance scale, large plates or fishing baskets. Today, they provide more useful items as straw hats or cover for potted plants.

Copper

Artisans make copper, brass and silver objects using four techniques: hammering, chiseling, embossing and filigree. No matter what technique is used, certain basic steps are always followed before the artisan applies the complexity and the fine details on the copper. After spending long hours of constant concentrated work, metal is transformed into articles. These could be oil lamps, tapered spears, incense holders, carafes, platters, covers for plant pots, oriental lamps and chandeliers.

Woodwork

Woodwork in Lebanon is of various kinds including inlaid veneer, painted wood and turned or sculpted wood. Inlaid veneer is used to decorate furniture in Arab households: chairs, small tables, chests and mirrors as well as chess sets, game tables, picture frames, pencil holders and boxes. Though it only requires an amateur to prepare the items but it requires a master craftsman for composing and setting the inlay. The "Zouaq" or painted wood, a technique of painting on wood derived from the Arab art, is another kind of woodwork seen on covering walls and ceilings. In turned wood, wood workers use cedar wood first to turn them into cylinders of different sizes then to sculpt them into coffee cups, plates, vases and bowls. As for the sculpted woodwork, artisans use designs based on geometric and floral patterns in which one can see on the wooden cupboards, chairs, tables and other items the decorative Islamic theme.

Cutlery with Carved Handles

This distinctive kind of cutlery has won several international fairs. The interesting thing about this cutlery is that the handles are shaped like a bird's head. This cutlery includes table services, salad servers, bar utensils, pocketknives, bottle openers and paper cutters.

Marzipan

In Lebanon, marzipan flowers are made of almond paste, sugar and orange-flower water. Besides making paste into flowers - daisies, poppies, roses or dandelions some at various occasions create bells to symbolize Christmas and eggs for Easter time.

Perfumed Soap

These many colored balls of soap are still made of olive oil since early centuries. Each kind of soap reflects an idea, different colors reflects different seasons. There are also small soaps in geometric shapes decorated with various floral motifs. On display these soaps allure the eye and aromatize the air with scent or wild flowers.

Silver Jewelry

Byzantine crosses, pins of Indian inspiration and Egyptian earrings are the typical reproduction of jewelry craftsmen. They also create brooches, necklaces, earrings and key rings of particular charm. Bell Foundry The bell though being a religious object, is also one of art - the art of bell foundry.

Bell Foundry

Involves several steps design, preparation of alloy, making the mold and finally casting. Bell foundry at most of its stages is secretive where the masters are kept alone but the outcome is the bell. Handicraft is the living proof that no machine can equal the grace of handmade articles making each object unique and a piece of art in itself. The traditional handicraft souvenirs could be bought from the many traditional handicraft shops at the tourist locations or old souks and villages.

Embroidery

The two techniques used in embroidery are "Tark" and "Oya". The "Tark" is a dress embroidered with silver thread using black, beige or maroon muslin held in hoops. The "Oya" is somehow similar to crochet but made with a needle and a thin cotton thread. Lebanon is definitely the place to find a lace tablecloth, a beautifully worked tray cloth, a crochet mat or a finely embroidered abaya.

Information provided by: http://www.ma3loumat.com/Handicraft.asp