Traditional Syrian Glassblowing Inscribed on UNESCO List of Intangible Heritage

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced on Tuesday the inclusion of Syrian traditional glass blowing craft on the list of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding within the lists of human cultural heritage.

​The organization said on its website that traditional Syrian glassblowing was inscribed in 2023 on the list of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

The organization added that traditional glass blowing in Damascus is an authentic craft of making glass materials using pieces of leftover glas. To create new objects , pieces of glass are placed inside a hand-made brick oven until they are melted. The craftsman twists the molten glass around a hollow metal rod . Then he blows into the rod to inflate the glass , using metal tongs to shape it into the desired shape, such as a cup, vase, lamp, or piece of decoration.

Powdered dyes are used to color the glass while it is still melted to decorate objects once they have cooled and hardened. Cultural symbols are often drawn or engraved on the glass. Damascus glassblowing is characterized by the colors used including , white, blue, green, and crimson, in addition to gold-plated motifs.

In the past, this craft remained within specific families, where the father passed on the secrets of the craft to his children. Today, the related knowledge and skills are passed on to those who wish to learn the craft through hands-on practice and training in workshops.

The craft of Syrian glassblowing constitutes a source of livelihood for craftsmen, and contributes to creating a sense of continuity and belonging. It is also associated to social, spiritual and historical spaces and with the practices that take place.

Rawaa Ghanam