Sakaka: Olive wood is renowned for its hardness, smooth texture, unique grain, and historical significance, making it a favored material for sculptors of prayer beads (Sabha) and decorative carvings. To celebrate this craft, the Cultural House in Sakaka recently held a workshop, led by local sculptor Rashed Al-Rashed, on making prayer beads from olive wood, attracting many handicraft enthusiasts.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the workshop began with an introduction to prayer bead materials and components, including various bead cuts. Participants then engaged in hands-on demonstrations of the full manufacturing process, covering wood selection, cutting, shaping, sanding, oiling, polishing, stringing, and attaching the main dividing bead and the tassel.
Al-Rashed highlighted the differences between handmade and manufactured prayer beads, noting that precision and material quality give each piece a unique character. He emphasized the distinctive properties of Al-Jouf olive wood, with its fine grain and warm color gradients enhancing bead artistry. He concluded by urging youth to preserve this craft, reflecting the heritage and identity of Al-Jouf Region.