TUNIS - Mohamed Amine Htiouich began honing his metal engraving skills as a teenager. Now the 37-year-old Tunisian is training the next generation in the ancient art, recently recognised by UNESCO. Htiouich first worked on copper, then silver and finally gold at the family’s workshop in the old medina of Tunis. While it is gaining recognition abroad, local artisans regret that metal engraving remains undervalued at home and suffers from a lack of government support. The UNESCO designation “commits us to preserving this exceptional know-how”, said Imed Soula, a Tunisian artisan who helped get engraving nominated for the list.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 25, 2023 22:23 UTC