Pottery & Zellij Tile Design Workshop |

Pottery & Zellij Tile Design Workshop

Islamic Pottery & Mosaic Tile

Participate in a full day workshop at the Pottery & Zellij Tile Cooperative. Enjoy a workshop led by pottery masters where you will learn how to make and paint the pottery unique to Fes. Learn the history of ceramics in Morocco and the local techniques that set Fes pottery apart. A translator and all the pottery materials are included. Keep and take home everything you make. Spend the day learning the traditions of this beautiful craft.

9:00am – 12:00pm – Pottery Design

Break for lunch.

2:00pm – 5:00pm – Zellij Tile Design

Background on Morocco’s Tile Design

Morocco is historically known for its Moroccan tradition of zellij tile design and hand thrown pottery.

Zellij tile is elegant and also decorative as it has a richness of color and pattern. Zellij is the art of hand cut geometric mosaic design. This is one of the highest forms of artistic expression in Moroccan culture and the Islamic world. In the recent years, zellij tile has inspired interior designers and gained momentum as an international design trend. Morocccan zellij tile contains many layers of meaning artistically and scientifically that can be found in its repetitive mathematical patterns.

The art of zellij flourished during the Hispano-Moresque period and then appeared in Morocco in the 10th century with nuances of varied white and earth toned colors. The art of zellij was limited to a few colors until Morocco’s Merinid Dynasty. Zellij then gained further importance in the 14th century. In the 17th century shades of cobalt blue, emerald green, and bright yellow were introduced. Older enamels and natural colors started to be re-utilized in the 20th century.