Using nothing but traditional hammers and chisels, craftsmen in Damascus are transforming spent artillery shells into decorative art, turning remnants of war into emblems of resilience and peace.
"We wanted to engrave patterns on the remnants of war," said Ahmad Baqbouq, a Syrian copper craftsman.
"The patterns are either Islamic patterns, geometric patterns, birds, or Damascene jasmine. It's a message to the coming generation that this piece, when used as a decoration at home, will remind them of what happened in Damascus," he said.
The shells, blackened and coated in soot at the outset, must first be painstakingly polished before any engraving can begin. Because these munitions were built to withstand extreme pressure, the metal is far thicker and tougher than ordinary brass, making the work considerably more difficult.
Yet through sheer perseverance, the artisans have managed to improvise an array of intricate, beautiful patterns.
But for Baqbouq, the mission goes beyond art. "Our ultimate goal is to revive crafts in Damascus so they can be as successful as before," he said. "We want people to come to buy Damascus steel swords, Damascus mosaics, Aghabani embroidery, and damask. Those crafts have reached the point at which they are on the verge of extinction."
Artisans in Damascus make art from symbols of war
