Home UNESCO Lists Intangible Cultural Heritage Intangible Cultural Heritage in Morocco Arts, Skills and Practices Associated with Engraving on Metals (Gold, Silver and Copper)

Arts, Skills and Practices Associated with Engraving on Metals (Gold, Silver and Copper)

Metal engraving is a centuries-old technique that involves etching words, symbols, and patterns into metals like gold, silver, and copper for decorative or ceremonial objects. Artisans create both recessed and raised designs, often incorporating religious texts, prayers, and geometric patterns.
These engraved items, which are very significant in social and cultural contexts, serve as traditional gifts, and they are used in rituals and for their believed healing properties. The skill is passed down within families, through workshops, and educational institutions, and promoted via publications and social media, embodying the cultural and social identity of the cocerned communities.

Arts, Skills and Practices Associated with Engraving on Metals (Gold, Silver and Copper) was inscribed in 2023 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen.