بتير: Fallahat from Battir

Peasant women from Battir (Jerusalem) carrying on their heads some of their field products. The picture was taken by late nineteenth century (1890s). The Battiri aubergine with its attractive purple countenance is overlooking from skilfully hand-woven flat baskets as if singing: “I am Battiri by origin, so nice if eaten”.

These hand-made baskets were woven by same women from tiny domestic oliveshoots that were wisely turned into pragmatic decorative art basketry.

In respect to the blessed olive-tree, those women carried the baskets in pride, with their heads raised and statures upright. It is they, who taught us that Art is one’s ability to create valuable masterpieces from wasted pieces; hence, turning tghe negative into positive.

With the compliments of, Omar Hasan Hammad