How it began
Glass making in Hebron, in the present-day State of Palestine, is traced by Wikipedia to Roman times and to the influence of the older Phoenician glass industry. Handmade Palestine says the practice was established under Roman rule as Phoenician glassmaking moved toward the city, and that free-blowing, shaping glass with breath instead of a mold, was in use from around 50 BCE.
Before it existed
The first raw materials were local sand and sodium carbonate, or soda ash, from the Dead Sea, which made Hebron a practical place for the industry. Today most Hebron glass is made from recycled broken glass. The products include vases, drinking vessels, jewelry and stained glass.
How it works
A blower gathers molten glass from the furnace on the end of a long hollow metal tube and blows into it to form a hollow shape. The piece is turned constantly, shaped with metal tools and returned to the fire as more glass is added. A gallery owner who visited in 2012 reported a furnace at about 1,000 degrees Celsius. Layers of color are added to make the swirls typical of Hebron ware.
How it spread
Hebron's role as a religious and trading town brought travelers who carried its glass away, and the ware was sold widely over the centuries. The craft passed down within families; the Natsheh family is named as one of the most influential, still using free-blowing in its factory.
Where it stands today
Wikipedia reports that the industry has declined because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, falling tourism and competition from imported glass. A visitor in 2012 found only two glassblowing workshops in Hebron, down from 14. The remaining workshops sell mainly to local markets and visitors, and the glass remains a cultural symbol of the city.
