Many are the crafts that the Aleppians excelled in and inherited from their ancestors to preserve and develop them so that they can continue. Wood engraving and inlays with mother-of-pearl is one of these crafts whose products are still popular in the local market and decorate many homes.
And the craftsman Muhammad al-Hayek, who inherited this craft from his father and his grandfather, explained that they inlays wood with shells and decorates it with oriental shapes and Arabic calligraphy for use in decoration works and decorating doors and windows.
Al-Hayek, who returned to his workshop in the neighborhood after his liberation from terrorism at the hands of the heroes of the Syrian Arab Army, added that he shares this heritage work with his elderly father and his brothers, as they are united by the love and preservation of this profession, stressing that "through their work they are trying to restore the beautiful past in order to live in our homes and stores."
Al-Hayek pointed out that the process of facing wood requires a long time, skill and high precision in accordance with the geometric shapes and drawings in the piece to be manufactured according to the customer's taste.
The types of wood used in this work differ according to Hayek, who prefers walnut for its strength and hardness, adding: The machine entered into their work and helped them complete their products in a faster time and less effort, while the grandparents performed their work completely manually.