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Hebron Ceramics & Glass

Those who were there will know how many beautiful ceramic items were bought at the Christmas Market in December 2025. We had to restock twice to meet demand. Supplied to us by Hadeel, Edinburgh, all the pottery is made by Hebron Ceramic and Glass.

The Company was founded in 1890 but glass and ceramic production in Hebron and the region began back in Phoenician and Roman times. Owned by the Natsheh family who have been making hand-blown glass for generations, Hebron Glass opened a ceramics factory in 1962, which temporarily closed after the first intifada and then re-opened in 2015. All the ceramics we sold were produced by the Company, who represent a collective of artisans making traditional Palestinian ceramics.

Hamzeh Natsheh tells us that “While daily life here presents unique and ongoing challenges, our unwavering focus remains on supporting our talented artists and their families. Through this craft, they are able to sustain their livelihoods and keep our cultural heritage alive.”

Hebron is one of the West Bank’s leading economic centres, with over 6,000 years of craftsmaking in glass, ceramics and embroidery. The City, often in the media spotlight for the tensions caused by the occupation, gained another kind of recognition in 2016 when it was presented with the World Craft City Award.

Hamzeh says that, as a business, “we choose to remain strictly focused on the artistry and craftsmanship of our work. We do not align ourselves with any political parties or viewpoints. While we, like everyone else, feel the weight of the current situation and deeply hope for a lasting peace that allows life to return to normal, we find that focusing on our passion for glass and ceramics is the best way to contribute positively.”

The making of ceramics goes through several phases: the first one, called the ‘cookies phase’ consists of making mud – clay baked at a temperature of a thousand degrees. The second stage is drawing patterns and colouring, and then a third phase, glass or silicate application.

Each single piece takes almost a week. First the clay is put on a pottery wheel and shaped by hand. The following day, the edges are smoothed by hand using water and a sponge. Then the piece is fired in a kiln at 1500º for two days. Black outlines are then made on each piece and the designs filled with colours. Layers of glaze are then applied before firing for 24 hours.

In an interview with Middle East Eye in 2017,  Hamzeh said that “Selling ceramics via craft shops across the world has become crucial to keep the factory open. Hamzeh says that this has become increasingly difficult to organise. ‘We used to easily transfer products to Haifa Port before 2000 and the Second Palestinian Intifada’. Since then, merchandise has to get through several checkpoints causing delays and increasing expenses.”

It’s important for Palestinians not to feel isolated. We depend on our partners in the USA, Canada and Europe who are doing a great job telling our story.” Switching to exports has saved the business but local Palestinians are important too: “they use it for serving food and drinks in their homes – It’s a way for them to be proud of their Palestinian culture.”

Hamzeh is grateful to people in Scotland for buying their ceramics, from PalCafe in Glasgow and from Hadeel in Edinburgh and online, “We are thrilled to hear they were well-received at your Christmas Market and thank you all for the wonderful work you are doing to showcase our ceramics and glass products in Scotland. Please keep us in your thoughts for peace, as this region desperately needs it.”

Read the article on Hebron Ceramic and Glass in full : Middle East Eye
YouTube video of visit to the Factory. Ceramics available to buy online from Hadeel

Hebron Ceramics & Glass