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Handicraft
the Tunisian handicraft boasts several specialties. The items proposed by the handicraftsmen are quite varied and display a wide range of objects, souvenirs and useful products devised from old techniques and inspired by purely Tunisian patterns.
The carpet
 | The classical stitch-knotted carpet is the " Kairouan ". It is characterized by large parallel ornate fringes and a central apttern based on the lozenge. When made of natural non-dyed wool, it is called " Alloucha ". We also find regional varieties and free-design carpets inspired from the traditional past. |
The Kilim 
| The carpet is woven in large, parallel and multi-colored stripes
The mergoum The mergoum is similar to the Kilim, but trimmed with complex woven patterns like the jacquard loom sweater. Klims and Mergoums make original floor carpets, less expensive than classical carpets. Some mergoums are produced like wall paintings or typical scenes, modern patterns, reminiscent of the traditional carpetry in Gafsa. |
Enameled ceramic  | This specialty takes its origin from the city of nabeul. It is usually made of light and shining colors: white background, blue, greenand sometimes orange patterns. The utilitarian dish is colored in yellow and green. |
Gross potery
| Dubbed " Chawat " and beige, when the clay is mixed with salty water, and reddish, when it is mixed with fresh water. Very famous in the Sahel region of Moknine and in the Guellala village of Djerba. |
Relief potery  | The relief potery of the Sedjnane, north west of the country, offers rustic shapes with original red and black patterns. |
The chechia
 | Taking its origin in Turkey, the chechia is a reddress which has evolved in Tunisia to become a sher cap. The color of the chechia is normally dark red or écru. Yet, other forms of chechias are equally commonplace nowadays like the colored, broadside, women and children ones.
The chechia has its own souk (market) in the very heart of the medina of Tunis. Its production is provided in only one room of the dar ben Abdallah museum, in Tunis. |
Copper
 | Engraved copper helps to provide several oriental-style items like trays, lamps, mortars, vases. Handicraftsmen, today, produce real paintings of colored and enamelled spun copper. |
Silver
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Made of an assembly of symbolic elements like the hand, the moon, the fish, the disc, the triangle, silver is the material of traditional jewlery par excellence.
These designs are displayed in form of breloque on fantasy jewels. We also use silver to produce luxury toilet accessories like the cases, perfume spriklers, mirrors, powder boxes etc …
Some traditional jewels could make excellent collection articles : fibules, rings crossed by a long pin to help bedouin women keep their clothe son their shoulders and ankle rings which could weigh up to 500 g each. |
Mats  | Taking their origin in the city of Nabeul, these woven rush mats, designed in green, drak red or black colors, are used as flor carpets or hung on the lower part of walls. Mat makers also produce utilitarian baskets. Hats are made of plaited alfa. In the south of the country, we find multi-size decoration baskets, made of embroiered palm-tree leaves, along with small-sized pieces of furniture made of palm-tree wood. |
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