To revive a production that might be called National, which had been declining for a very long time, Lebanese women fought for years to raise up this admirable industry of the art works of ZOUK and to form, as far as possible, an organization of the artisan crafts that until then did not exist.
In the first place, by selecting the work through the choice of the best artisans, giving them, according to their abilities, models with new designs to execute; then, to conquer the anarchy that reigned in the making of the old, outmoded models, invariably the same and for the most part badly executed; to re-educate these artisans, left to themselves without a guide; to show them a technical course to follow in the execution of the designs and novelties that were to bring their art back to life.
There was a time when these artisans, discouraged, without resources, riddled with debts, could no longer make a living, because they could no longer find an outlet for their work.
To climb back up this
catastrophic slope, to organize a salesroom, to gather all these workers around the artisan center, and to make them understand the purpose of the work... these Lebanese women needed unbelievable tenacity and patience.
The results obtained to this day are certainly appreciable! But how much struggle still remains, to place the art of ZOUK in the superior conditions it deserves.
Without dwelling on all the conditions that would lead us to this goal — "such as schools of design, technical instructors, suitable installations" to lighten the workers' task, well-lit workshops, etc., etc. — the undertaking is one of importance, and we shall speak of it again.
In spite of everything, it is encouraging to see how greatly the Beirut public has taken an interest in this renaissance, and how it has responded to this effort.
The little path of the artisan center of the early days has become the great avenue leading to the elegant permanent exhibition, where lovers of beautiful
works come to admire at their ease all the pieces executed by the fairy fingers of our Lebanese workwomen, as well as the brilliant weavings of our artists of ZOUK.
Today these works are known and appreciated in the Americas, at the Court of London, at the Court of Egypt. His Highness Prince ALY OHRAN, passing through here, after making important purchases at the Artisanat, was kind enough to express to us his admiration for the fineness and the shimmering colors of the woven motifs, as well as for the beautiful table linen.
I shall say, in closing, that new teams of artisans are necessary to us, indispensable, to meet the many orders that come to us — and so that the effort given up to this day may not remain a dead letter, and that ZOUK may become the center of the National Industry, protected and aided by the Lebanese Government, on the same footing as the Gobelins and Aubusson manufactories are in France.
The new Chen Yu
CHEN YU
• It keeps its quality a long time
• It dries quickly
• Its colors are magical and alluring
• Its new brush makes it easy to apply
For the fingertips and for the lips