Antique Tatreez Patchwork – Historical Map of Palestine

Bedspread, wall hanging, bed throw or table runner: this versatile textile piece brings together genuine fragments of antique Palestinian embroidery in one unique patchwork.

The idea behind this creation came from Sa’ad, a Palestinian merchant in Jerusalem: to bring together traditional embroidery from different towns and villages across historic Palestine within a single piece. He calls this composition a “historical map of Palestine.”

To bring his idea to life, Sa’ad turned to his friend Sheikh Ibrahim, who comes from the mountainous region of Al-Khalil (Hebron) and from a family known for its sewing craftsmanship.

Ibrahim collected old traditional Palestinian dresses from across historic Palestine, some of them more than 100 years old. He carefully preserves their embroidered sections, selecting, cutting and assembling the different fragments to create these large patchworks of antique tatreez.

Each piece therefore brings together embroidery from different Palestinian towns and villages. Motifs, colours and embroidery styles meet within a single composition, bringing together fragments of Palestinian textile heritage in one creation.

All the embroidery is handmade. It is neither printed nor reproduced for these creations: these are genuine embroidered fragments taken from old Palestinian dresses.

One textile piece, several uses

Available in several sizes, this creation can be displayed and used in different ways depending on its dimensions and your interior.

It can be used as a bedspread or bed throw, displayed on a wall as a large textile wall hanging, laid across a table as a table runner, or draped over a sofa, armchair or piece of furniture as a decorative textile.

The larger sizes, particularly the 180 × 240 cm, are especially suited to use as a bedspread or large wall hanging, while the narrower formats can easily be used as table runners, furniture throws or textile wall décor.

Every piece is unique

Ibrahim creates each patchwork individually according to the antique dresses and embroidered fragments available to him. No two compositions are exactly alike.

The motifs, colours and their arrangement vary from one piece to another. The piece you receive may therefore not be exactly identical to the one shown in the photos, while following the same creative concept and the dimensions of your selected size.

This is part of what makes these creations so distinctive: every piece has its own combination of embroidery and forms its own “historical map of Palestine.”

By choosing this creation, you directly support the work of Sa’ad and Sheikh Ibrahim while helping preserve and pass on antique Palestinian embroidery.

Antique tatreez cushion covers, created according to the same patchwork principle, are also available to create a coordinated set.