This is the tale of Sadu House, a Bedouin weaving custom that dates back a thousand years and still enthralls and motivates people today. A civilization steeped in rich history and timeless beauty may be found nestled inside the wide and breathtaking Arabian Peninsula. There, the sun-kissed desert sands shimmer in golden colors, and the soft wind whispers conjure tales of ancient people.

One of the ancient handicrafts that was well-liked by women who once lived in the desert is sadu weaving, which is a true representation of their surroundings.

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Sadu House

The galleries are dispersed around the city’s stunning Sadu House, a traditional Kuwaiti home. It is instantly clear from the building’s entryway that this is a professionally operated, orderly institution.

A vast array of exquisitely designed Bedouin fabrics and the tools used to create them are on show. There are several explanations, including technical commentary and an explanation of the artifacts’ usage, unlike the National Museum.

The Alsadu project: what is it?

As a cooperative, the Alsadu initiative is owned and operated by active weavers. The more contemporary weaving methods are celebrated, and change is accepted.

In fact, the initiative seeks to enhance the weaving heritage and techniques in addition to preserving them. The exhibits demonstrate how desert weaving has been incorporated into modern urban life and how the weavers’ social function has had to change. In the market economy, weavers have had to carve out a new niche. The weavers are now required to employ foreign materials and concepts, and their work must be marketed commercially.

Definition of Al-Sadu

The Bedouin word for weaving and the loom is al-Sadu. Bedouin art was mostly expressed via weaving, and the museum gives the pieces a lyrical, even magical quality. The industry had two sides in the eyes of the Bedouins.

In addition to using various techniques for various objects, weavers were basically artists who were required to make utilitarian goods like as tents, tent dividers, bags, and carpets. Weavers added elegance to a lifestyle that was otherwise straightforward and utilitarian. They produced visually stunning designs that were significant to tribal identity. The fabric’s patterns, which are memorized, indicate the flora and animals of the desert. They exhibit harmony, rhythm, and symmetry.

Sadu House is dedicated to comprehending and recording the significance of these trends. Up until recently, all of the colors used by the weavers came from natural plants found in the desert, and they would utilize the hair of horses, camels, sheep, and goats.

Because the Bedouin would replace and discard old pieces, only a small number of the earliest textiles remain. However, there are items from the late nineteenth century in the museum. With a partially finished cloth connected, the floor loom could be folded up and transported. It was therefore a good fit for the itinerant way of life.

Sadu House History

The mansion, which faces the Arab Gulf Street and is situated in the Qibla neighborhood, was constructed in 1929 AD by Mr. Youssef Al-Marzouq. It measures 1061.5 square meters in size.

It is one of the few surviving structures from the pre-oil Kuwaiti era, and it is distinguished by the way it blends the traditional Kuwaiti architectural style in terms of design with the Indian architectural art in terms of the motifs used on the windows and doors.

One of the Indian architects who came to Kuwait especially for this project oversaw the construction of the first private home made of cement and concrete.

After then, in 1938 AD, Mr. Youssef Sherine Behbehani purchased the house and made a number of additions to the original design. When electricity was introduced into homes in 1952, fans were fitted in every room.

Due to the Kuwaiti family’s relocation to more contemporary neighborhoods, the Behbehani family left the house to start a new afternoon where they embrace the long-standing Badia art form of Sadu, where they have been using the Cooperative Crafts of Sado since 1979.

Like the majority of Kuwaiti dwellings, the Sadu House has only one function. He gave Mr. Youssef Behbehani the first position after transferring ownership, closing part of the air (Bader) tanks, and installing wooden cabinets.

The home has three entrances: the main Diwaniyah entrance, which faces Arab Gulf Street; another entrance on the same side, which serves as the guest apartment; and a third entrance, which faces the northeast and is the harem entrance.

Additionally, the house’s use of fees for two entrances—the Diwaniyah entry and the harem entrance—with enamel, arches, wooden doors, and windows is one of its distinctive esthetic features.

Diwaniyah Hosh (Reception for Men):

To the right of the entry is the Diwaniyah yard, which is reached via a brief vestibule (corridor) that opens from the main entrance door.

A European-style fireplace and a variety of colored and decorated ceilings were installed by Mr. Youssef Behbehani. Additionally, there is a drawer on the first level that opens into a room.