Jordanian Palestinian Tatreez Cross-Stitch Embroidery Keychain

This is a handmade tatreez keychain made by a family member. The pillow measures approximately 3.25 inches long by 2 inches wide by 1 inch thick. She handstitched a map of Palestine on the front and customized the back with the word "Believe."

Tatreez is Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery distinguishable by its luscious color schemes and elaborate patterns. This textile art emerged in the Middle East nearly 3,000 years ago. The tradition was passed down orally from mother to daughter, from generation to generation.

The embroidery stitching is its own language using symbols to tell stories of one’s nation, village, family, and heritage. The symbols, thread, and cloth colors represented different communities in Palestine. Women in Jericho, near the Dead Sea, stitched colorful floral patterns. Women of Hebron used blues and stitched moons while women in Ramallah would use red thread to stitch palm and cypress trees. In the mountainous regions, women would use black fabric as the background while women in the north, traditionally used white fabric. Tatreez became a dying art form at the end of the 1940s as women were displaced, families dispersed. Two decades later, a tatreez revival saw the transformation of traditional stitching to one’s expressing opinions, sharing stories, and even documenting oppression, occupation, and resilience.

*** ORDERS PLACED BY 3 PM EST MONDAY-FRIDAY ARE CURRENTLY BEING SHIPPED THE SAME BUSINESS DAY. ORDERS BEING PLACED BY 12 PM EST ON SATURDAY ARE BEING SHIPPED THE SAME DAY. ***