Moroccan brass engraving, known locally as az-Zuwāq ʿala an-Nuḥās, is an old tradition. The techniques of brass engraving in Morocco, using a chisel and other stamps, and the methods of constructing patterns using a hand-forged divider, date back to early 11th century.

This workshop invites you to be part of this commitment to old techniques and methods that marks transgenerational legacies. This drop-In workshop will showcase the following technical steps:

• Tracing: Using a divider and ruler, we will find the center, trace circles and divide them into a specific number.
• Chiseling: Using a set of chisels, we will try our hands on making straight lines.
• Stamping: Using a variety of different stamps from our 1550 stamps collection, we will add details to our creativity.
• Shaping: Using a wooden mallet, we will attempt to raise the edge of the engraved brass sheet to turn into in a tray. The finished brass engraving will be gifted to the Ambacht in Beeld Foundation.

Hamza El Fasiki is an artisan and author. Hamza has apprenticed under his father at Dar-Attamania Studio in Fes, Morocco between 2011 and 2021. Hamza holds an MA degree on Moroccan Cultural Studies with an academic research focus on the cultural history of Moroccan traditional crafts from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fes. Hamza is specialist in traditional Moroccan geometric patterns, brass engraving and bookbinding and had published academic works in the field and traveled around 16 countries while learning and teaching Moroccan culture.