Ceramic Hand Tray - Black
Made in Jordan
by socially and economically marginalized women
$ 18.00 - $ 28.00
Stash your smaller items in this ceramic tray shaped like the Hand of Fatima, a protective symbol found throughout the Middle East and northern Africa. Every piece is completely unique — carefully crafted, bisque-fired, and hand-glazed. Each purchase empowers artisans at Iraq Al-Amir Women's Cooperative in Jordan.
Ceramic Hand Tray - Black
As with all handmade items, no two pieces are the same. Variations in size, color, and design will occur.
Details
- Small approximately: 1.5" long x 8" wide
- Large approximately: 3" long x 12" wide
- Food-safe
- Hand-wash
- Not mircorwave-safe
- As with all handmade items, slight variations will occur
Iraq Al-Amir Women's Cooperative
Based in Jordan, Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative has empowered a community of skilled craftswomen since 1993. The artisans are mostly single women from rural communities, many of whom have worked with the cooperative since its beginnings. However, in recent years, many young women whose families chose not to fund higher education have also been recruited. Four women in the co-op currently hold a high school degree, but the majority have had limited access to formal educational opportunities. The income earned through Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative is essential to supporting their livelihoods, especially considering the current decrease in farmland that has left many community members in poverty.
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THE TECHNIQUE
Craftswomen at Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative in Jordan create beautiful ceramics using different colored clays, glazes, and plaster. To create this tray, the women practice a slip-casting technique. They first take clay and turn it into slip, which is a liquid mixture of clay and water with a consistency similar to heavy cream. The slip is then poured into molds and left to sit for 12 to 24 hours based on the temperature and the weather. The excess slip is poured out and the remaining clay is left to dry. Once the molds are firmer, the pieces are removed, refined, and prepped for firing in the oven. After a three-day period, the pieces are sandpapered, glazed by hand with a certified lead-free glaze, and set back in the kiln for a final three days.
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Jordan
Located in the Middle East, Jordan borders Israel, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the West Bank in Southwest Asia. It is located at the crossroads of what is deemed the Holy Land among Christians, Jews, and Muslims and has 16 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Aqaba. Jordan has a diverse geography, from the desert to the Jordan Valley to uplands near the Jordan River.
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Fair Trade Products
Fair Trade is an approach to international trade centered around equitable partnerships, transparency and respect. It seeks to empower marginalized producers by providing them safe working conditions, fair pay, and a means to establish a sustainable business free from exploitation. As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, we are committed to the Fair Trade principles.
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