Material Symbols of Traditional Bedouin Al-Sadu Weavings of Kuwait

Abstract

The historical weaving heritage of the Arabian Peninsula is a vibrant and essential element of traditional material culture. Traditional al-Sadu woven textiles convey the Bedouin women weavers’ ideals of their rich heritage and instinctive awareness of natural beauty, with patterns and designs messaging the nomadic lifestyle, the desert environment, and the emphasis of aesthetic symmetry and balance due to the making process. The significance of al-Sadu weaving as a decorative craft is due not only to its importance as material culture but also because of its functionality, which served the everyday needs of the traditional Bedouin nomadic lifestyle. Al-Sadu textiles can be linked and feature in many different aspects of Bedouin community life, and are testimony to the practical achievements, manual dexterity and aesthetic values of the weavers. Like a visual language, decorative iconography and patterns create a lexicon of symbols, with messages conveying the creativity and history of desert and coastal nomadic dwelling. This article focuses on the interpretation of the traditional al-Sadu woven symbols, motifs, and patterns, establishing a wealth of meaning and communication from the codes or pictographic language by exploring the oral history and memories of a dwindling number of contemporary Bedouin women weavers in Kuwait.