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Serial Number: ART2078
Valuation:
BHD 70
Medium:
Acrylic o n Canvas
Type:
Portrait
Style:
Realism
Date:
2024
Size:
60x45 cm
Artist:
Abdul Jalil Al Hayki, Bahraini Artist, Instagram abo_ali_alhayki
He is a Bahraini artist whose main interest is in documenting Bahrain traditions and heritage.
Status: Display
Description:
This artwork depicts two Bahrainis engaged in the traditional craft of pearl cracking—a meticulous process deeply rooted in Bahrain’s pearl diving heritage. Renowned for its high-quality natural pearls, Bahrain flourished as a commercial center by the late 18th century, attracting merchants to specialized markets such as the Tawawish Market, alongside the Smithy and Whistling Markets.
Families involved in pearl cracking often passed the craft down through generations, with some even adopting surnames linked to the profession. In Manama, neighborhoods like Al-Matafi (locally called the Supernatural district) were closely associated with this craft. Artisans used wooden hand drills fitted with sharp needles to crack open the pearls—a task demanding such precision and focus that it often caused severe eye strain or even blindness.
The craft declined after the discovery of oil in 1932, as diving ships disappeared and artificial pearls replaced natural ones. Today, the tradition survives only through oral histories, photographs, and documentation by cultural historians.
This piece was purchased on the 16th of June, 2025.
