Sabr ( صبر ) Cactus Plate (Qalonia)

This Sabr صبر cactus plate was press-molded from an actual sabr cactus collected by my mother from the demolished Palestinian village of Qalonia, on the outskirts of Jerusalem. A two-piece plaster mold was made directly from the cactus, allowing its distinctive form to be replicated in clay.

Each plate is made by pressing clay into the mold, after which the rim is shaped by hand. The result is a small, functional plate for serving snacks, carrying the story of the land and of the village that existed in the place where it grows.

The sabr cactus has become one of the most recognisable symbols of Palestine. For generations, Palestinians planted cactus hedges around their homes, villages and fields to mark property boundaries, separate orchards, and protect livestock. After 1948 , when hundreds of Palestinian villages were depopulated and destroyed, the cactus hedges remained, often growing over the ruins and marking the places where the Palestinian homes and communities stood.

The Arabic word sabr means patience, perseverance and endurance. With its ability to survive and continue growing in difficult conditions, its deep roots and enduring presence on the land have made the sabr a powerful symbol of Palestinian steadfastness and their unbreakable connection to the land. 

Dimensions: 15 × 8 cm