Mihwar

Turquoise Mountain and the ALIPH Foundation have teamed up to train four of our apprentices in product development. Led by master artisans and our own in-house design team, the apprentices have developed their own product collections, which are on display in our showroom and here on our webstore. With a focus on the traditional crafts of wood carving, wood-mosaic, carpentry, and mother of pearl inlay; the apprentices experienced the full design, production and sales cycle. All four collections celebrate craftsmanship and the region’s cultural heritage. Make sure to ask about these on your next visit and support our apprentices’ emerging craft skills by placing a product order.

Mihwar focuses on the craft of wood carving. Ornate and intricately carved woodwork can be found on everything from furniture to decorative objects in the Levant. Damascus and Aleppo have been major centers for production through the centuries and many examples of elaborate woodwork from these cities have made their way into the prominent households, buildings, and markets of the region. There are many different styles of wood carving, from shallow carving to perforated carving, and many artisans make their own tools for particular designs and details. Wood carvers based in Jordan come from Syria, Egypt, and Turkey and all practice different carving styles, using walnut, beech, and oak woods.