Traditional craftsman keeps Arabic calligraphy alive

Mustafa Al-Shehabi is a Syrian master in manufacturing bespoke Arabic calligraphy pens. At his workshop in al-Bab city in Aleppo province, Mustafa finishes production manually using a sharpening machine to shape the pen according to the customer’s preference.

He is one of a handful of artisans in the region specializing in producing chrome pens for traditional handwritten inscriptions.

Mustafa uses an industrial machine to produce these pens with valuable materials. Rare types of wood, natural creatine, lamb horn, and seashells make these items prized by calligraphers for their solidity and quality.

These unique tools, which are themselves works of art, take nearly an entire week of careful work by Mustafa to assemble to perfection.