2025
Unique Works Material: Clay

The women’s community of Sejnane in northern Tunisia is at the heart of a craft tradition recognized in 2018 by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A tradition passed down from mother to daughter over generations, the ceramics of Sejnane are shaped entirely by hand using clay sourced from the dry riverbeds of seasonal wadis. The pieces—whether functional, decorative, or playful—are deeply rooted in daily life and inspired by the natural world. After being processed and shaped, the clay is fired outdoors using a stack of wood and dried dung. Some pieces are left in their natural color, while others are fired again under straw to achieve a distinctive black tone with a metallic sheen.

The exhibited works on display are crafted by artisans Hanene Mechrgui, Farida Saidani, Marowa Saidani, Mufida Saidani, and Najed Saidani, for the recently launched nonprofit Malles Shaping Stories, which aims to create a fair and sustainable sales system for artisans, both to support them economically and to preserve the craft tradition.