Coffee Table Book

Age-old crafts which produced everyday household wares such as baskets, woven mats, textiles, pottery and metalwork, played a central role in the lives of the traditional Bahraini family and gave cohesion, purpose and a sense of identity to all, particularly those in the village communities. Over time, these villages became famous for specializing in particular art and craft forms and many Bahraini crafts had, and still have today, particular distinctive features of which their creators are justifiably proud. The Kingdom of Bahrain has always ensured that its people have been kept aware of these traditional arts and crafts by promoting and establishing individual centres for teaching and training younger generations in both past and present craft processes and design, not only to preserve their heritage, but also to create an economically sustainable industry for the benefit of both individuals and communities alike. Today, several handicraft centres are to be found, offering a wide selection of both traditional and modem hand-made arts and crafts.

Working with the author, Ali Follad, and Andrew Weaver, a leading professional photographer based in the Middle East, we set out to create a stunning bespoke coffee table book (which actually became a series of coffee table books), that would not only function as a reference to the arts and crafts of Bahrain, but also as an inspirational tool to preserve and inspire a new generation of artisans to learn and continue these important crafts.