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Crafts of the Kingdom

Crafts of the Kingdom: Culture and Creativity in Saudi Arabia sheds light on the craft traditions and cultural heritage of the historic Gulf nation

Acoffee table book celebrating the cultural and craft heritage of Saudi Arabia has been published by luxury publisher Assouline, showcasing the nation’s diverse craft traditions and the master artisans who diverse craft traditions and the master artisans who are behind the production of some of the Kingdom’s are behind the production of some of the Kingdom’s rich handicrafts.

Crafts of the Kingdom: Culture and Creativity in Saudi Crafts of the Kingdom: Culture and Creativity in Saudi Arabia shines a spotlight on various crafts that are shines a spotlight on various crafts that are native to the history and civilisation of the Saudi native to the history and civilisation of the Saudi Arabian desert, from handloom Sadu weaving and Arabian desert, from handloom Sadu weaving and fine jewellry-making to regional Asiri wall painting. fine jewellry-making to regional Asiri wall painting. All the crafts revealed within the 220 pages of this All the crafts revealed within the 220 pages of this book highlight the intricacy of the crafts found book highlight the intricacy of the crafts found across the Gulf country – whether it is the delicate across the Gulf country – whether it is the delicate Ahmad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who was embroidery of a traditional Saudi dress, the precise embroidery of a traditional Saudi dress, the precise born in Riyadh and is a scholar of Anthroplogy and incisions of woodworked objects or the fine textures incisions of woodworked objects or the fine textures Development Studies, currently conducting doctoral of woven textiles, each craft tradition is performed of woven textiles, each craft tradition is performed research at the University of Cambridge. She is by hand, bearing the marks of the artisans who by hand, bearing the marks of the artisans who also the mastermind behind Atharna, a brand and created them. business that economically and culturally supports

Featuring vibrant collections of original and Featuring vibrant collections of original and artisans across the Middle East, promoting regional archival photography, Crafts of the Kingdom journeys journeys craft traditions to a wider audience. across the Kingdom – from its capital Riyadh to across the Kingdom – from its capital Riyadh to “The reverence I hold for the artisans, who the mountains of Al Baha and the historic districts the mountains of Al Baha and the historic districts have for hundreds of years, carried our Kingdom’s of Jeddah – to highlight the diversity of crafts and of Jeddah – to highlight the diversity of crafts and material culture with such pride and honour, is traditions across the various regions of Saudi Arabia, traditions across the various regions of Saudi Arabia, insurmountable. The heritage they created surrounds while revealing the historic roots and modern while revealing the historic roots and modern me daily in Riyadh, where I live… Amongst the interpretations of each of these crafts. modern and high-rise buildings filled with urbane, intellectual, well-travelled people, the desert

Wool thread being woven into al sadu, a traditional handloom used for the Bedouin art of Sadu weaving.

Photography by Harald Gottschalk.

The book is written by HRH Princess Najla bint Ahmad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who was born in Riyadh and is a scholar of Anthroplogy and Development Studies, currently conducting doctoral research at the University of Cambridge. She is also the mastermind behind Atharna, a brand and business that economically and culturally supports artisans across the Middle East, promoting regional craft traditions to a wider audience.

“The reverence I hold for the artisans, who have for hundreds of years, carried our Kingdom’s material culture with such pride and honour, is insurmountable. The heritage they created surrounds me daily in Riyadh, where I live… Amongst the modern and high-rise buildings filled with urbane, intellectual, well-travelled people, the desert landscapes are a constant and welcome reminder of our Bedouin heritage,” HRH Princess Najla writes in the introduction.

“In Saudi Arabia, heritage is all around us. We value this heritage and cherish time-honoured crafts in our homes, displaying them in pride of place, feeling rooted in our beautiful land and traditions. For a long time, some people have held the belief that only modern items are a reflection of modern identity. There is nothing more untrue. Heritage pieces are the representation of where we are in time and of our strength as a nation,” she continues.

In Crafts of the Kingdom, what emerges is a portrait of Saudi Arabia as a nation whose cultural heritage and diverse creativity has been proudly cherished, reverently preserved and profoundly influential from ancient days to modern times. It is an ode to the country’s rich cultural legacy, and to the people who have had a hand in crafting these traditions through the ages.