al-Hiba: Sculptors with Mud
Date: Early 1970s
Some Miʾdan families would make mud replicas of jewelry worn in life by a deceased person. The real jewelry was kept by the family as part of their assets. This replica jewelry was made by the most elderly woman in the family, and it was considered unlucky to watch it being made or to make it if were not for a specific corpse. This sun-dried jewelry, with the exception of the rings, all of the mud jewelry was made to be attached with a cord. They are normally only decorated with markings made with reed sticks. See also: Maker of Mud Drums; Maker of Handmade Pottery Vessels; Jeweller.
Citation: Ochsenschlager, Edward. Iraq’s Marsh Arabs in the Garden of Eden (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 2004), pp. 87-88.
Date: Until the late 1970s
Makers of mud whistles, known colloquially as saffaras, first make a dumbbell-shape from mud that has been treated with coma (made from the hair-like material found on the top of reeds). One end is shaped out for the mouthpiece. The other end is slit so that its walls can be thinned before the ends are brought together again to close-in the hollow space. A hole into this hollow space is made by the mouthpiece with a reed; another hole is drilled longitudinally through the mouthpiece center; and two final holes are made on either side of the hollow chamber. Shepherds would play tunes using these whistles. Ochsenschlager, however, records that by the late 1970s mud whistles were becoming more scarce as plastic whistles were brought into the area, and shepherds used the mud whistles less due to their shrillness. See also: Maker of Mud Drums; Potter; Maker of Handmade Pottery Vessels.
Citation: Ochsenschlager, Edward. Iraq’s Marsh Arabs in the Garden of Eden (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 2004), p. 77.
Date: Until c. 1980
Arabic: khorkhasha (Baby Rattles)
Mud rattles, known colloquially as khorkhashas, are made of two shot-glass shaped parts with broken pottery, stones, or other rattling materials inside. Before the two parts are joined they are made even and pounded gently until flattened. Dust is next spread over the two parts to keep the rattling material from sticking while they dry. Once the rattling material is inside a long strip of clay is wrapped around where they join and then the ends of the strip are brought together to form the handle. Occasionally, the outside of the rattle is decorated before the mud dries. See also: Maker of Mud Drums; Potter; Maker of Handmade Pottery Vessels.
Citation: Ochsenschlager, Edward. Iraq’s Marsh Arabs in the Garden of Eden (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 2004), pp. 85-86.