Erbil's wooden legacy: Tradition vs. mass production
Shafaq News/ In the heart of Erbil’shistoric Qaysari Bazaar, seasoned craftsman Zohair continues to producehandmade wooden goods—a tradition increasingly at risk amid the rise of massproduction and shifting consumer habits.
For more than 30 years, he has workedfrom the same stall, offering items such as trays, sifters, lattice screens,and brushes. Some are made locally, especially sieves and sifters, while othersare imported from China, Turkiye, Iran, and Mosul.
“Demand hasn’t faded,” Zohair toldShafaq News. “In fact, it sometimes picks up.”
Many customers, he explained, are drawnto the cultural appeal of the items. “Some buy them for daily use, others asdecorative pieces with a connection to tradition.”
“Tourism plays a vital role insustaining the craft,” he added. Visitors from central and southern Iraq—andfrom abroad—often seek out his products as unique souvenirs unavailableelsewhere.
Yet the work is not without challenges.Zohair pointed to delays caused by traffic, the relocation of workshops outsidethe city, and the inconsistent availability of imported materials—all of whichdisrupt his operations.
Despite modest income, he remainsdevoted to his craft. “Only a handful of shops still do this. Most have shiftedto selling modern goods,” he said. “Even if our children don’t carry it on, thecraft will remain part of our heritage.”
