Cypriot crafts, including ceramics, woodwork, basketry, embroidery, weaving and carpentry, date back to antiquity and serve as cultural ambassadors, showcasing the skills that Cypriots have passed down through the generations. Embroidery Embroidery plays a significant role in traditional Cypriot art, with each region specialising in its own unique techniques. Evidence of fabric decoration dates back to prehistoric times, with the earliest examples being found in the Eastern Mediterranean. During the mediaeval period, Cyprus was renowned for its high quality luxury silk textiles interwoven with gold-thread, known as or de Chypre (gold of Cyprus). One of the finest examples of Cypriot embroidery is the “Lefkaritiko lace”, which originated in the village of Lefkara. Considering the result of Venetian reticella-type lace techniques merging with local Cypriot embroidery traditions such as “asproploumia”, a hybrid art form is created combining cutwork, satin stitch and needlepoint edging with intricate geometric designs. Lefkara lace was inscribed in 2009 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and is still produced today. Weaving During the Bronze Age, textile production, including purple dye, was a sophisticated and economically vital industry in Cyprus. Throughout the mediaeval period, particularly during the Frankish rule, fine wool and silk fabrics from Cyprus were exported to Europe. Fabrics were woven Cyprus holds a rich tradition of craftsmanship, that has shaped daily life, artistic expression and the island’s cultural identity. HANDMADE IN CYPRUS Photos: Courtesy of the Cyprus Handicraft Service
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