Artisans work at a century-old Armenian pottery shop run by the Karakashian family in the Old City of Jerusalem, Nov. 7, 2026.
An Armenian pottery workshop in Jerusalem's Old City showcases colorful ceramics featuring traditional floral and bird motifs. Hagop Karakashian, the workshop's owner, is a third-generation Armenian ceramic artist whose family tradition in Jerusalem dates back to 1919, when his grandfather arrived in the city from the Ottoman Empire.
For more than a century, the family has preserved its distinctive craftsmanship, becoming part of the Old City's rich cultural heritage.
But years of conflict have cast a shadow over the century-old business. Since the outbreak of the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, Jerusalem tourism has suffered severely. Karakashian said the number of visitors to his shop has dropped by 90 percent.
Despite the challenges, the family-run workshop remains open daily. Amid the shadow of war, the vibrant flowers and birds painted on the ceramics remain symbols of resilience and hope, reflecting a longing for peace in a city long marked by conflict. (Xinhua/Pang Xinyi)
A visitor works on a ceramic piece at a century-old Armenian pottery shop run by the Karakashian family in the Old City of Jerusalem, Nov. 7, 2026.
An Armenian pottery workshop in Jerusalem's Old City showcases colorful ceramics featuring traditional floral and bird motifs. Hagop Karakashian, the workshop's owner, is a third-generation Armenian ceramic artist whose family tradition in Jerusalem dates back to 1919, when his grandfather arrived in the city from the Ottoman Empire.
For more than a century, the family has preserved its distinctive craftsmanship, becoming part of the Old City's rich cultural heritage.
But years of conflict have cast a shadow over the century-old business. Since the outbreak of the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, Jerusalem tourism has suffered severely. Karakashian said the number of visitors to his shop has dropped by 90 percent.
Despite the challenges, the family-run workshop remains open daily. Amid the shadow of war, the vibrant flowers and birds painted on the ceramics remain symbols of resilience and hope, reflecting a longing for peace in a city long marked by conflict. (Xinhua/Wang Zhuolun)
An artisan works on a ceramic piece at a century-old Armenian pottery shop run by the Karakashian family in the Old City of Jerusalem, Nov. 7, 2026.
An Armenian pottery workshop in Jerusalem's Old City showcases colorful ceramics featuring traditional floral and bird motifs. Hagop Karakashian, the workshop's owner, is a third-generation Armenian ceramic artist whose family tradition in Jerusalem dates back to 1919, when his grandfather arrived in the city from the Ottoman Empire.
For more than a century, the family has preserved its distinctive craftsmanship, becoming part of the Old City's rich cultural heritage.
But years of conflict have cast a shadow over the century-old business. Since the outbreak of the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, Jerusalem tourism has suffered severely. Karakashian said the number of visitors to his shop has dropped by 90 percent.
Despite the challenges, the family-run workshop remains open daily. Amid the shadow of war, the vibrant flowers and birds painted on the ceramics remain symbols of resilience and hope, reflecting a longing for peace in a city long marked by conflict. (Xinhua/Wang Zhuolun)
A visitor works on a ceramic piece at a century-old Armenian pottery shop run by the Karakashian family in the Old City of Jerusalem, Nov. 7, 2026.
An Armenian pottery workshop in Jerusalem's Old City showcases colorful ceramics featuring traditional floral and bird motifs. Hagop Karakashian, the workshop's owner, is a third-generation Armenian ceramic artist whose family tradition in Jerusalem dates back to 1919, when his grandfather arrived in the city from the Ottoman Empire.
For more than a century, the family has preserved its distinctive craftsmanship, becoming part of the Old City's rich cultural heritage.
But years of conflict have cast a shadow over the century-old business. Since the outbreak of the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, Jerusalem tourism has suffered severely. Karakashian said the number of visitors to his shop has dropped by 90 percent.
Despite the challenges, the family-run workshop remains open daily. Amid the shadow of war, the vibrant flowers and birds painted on the ceramics remain symbols of resilience and hope, reflecting a longing for peace in a city long marked by conflict. (Xinhua/Wang Zhuolun)
This photo taken on Nov. 7, 2026 shows ceramic artworks at a century-old Armenian pottery shop run by the Karakashian family in the Old City of Jerusalem.
An Armenian pottery workshop in Jerusalem's Old City showcases colorful ceramics featuring traditional floral and bird motifs. Hagop Karakashian, the workshop's owner, is a third-generation Armenian ceramic artist whose family tradition in Jerusalem dates back to 1919, when his grandfather arrived in the city from the Ottoman Empire.
For more than a century, the family has preserved its distinctive craftsmanship, becoming part of the Old City's rich cultural heritage.
But years of conflict have cast a shadow over the century-old business. Since the outbreak of the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, Jerusalem tourism has suffered severely. Karakashian said the number of visitors to his shop has dropped by 90 percent.
Despite the challenges, the family-run workshop remains open daily. Amid the shadow of war, the vibrant flowers and birds painted on the ceramics remain symbols of resilience and hope, reflecting a longing for peace in a city long marked by conflict. (Xinhua/Pang Xinyi)
Hagop Karakashian, an Armenian traditional ceramic craftsman, works at his shop in the Old City of Jerusalem, Nov. 7, 2026.
An Armenian pottery workshop in Jerusalem's Old City showcases colorful ceramics featuring traditional floral and bird motifs. Hagop Karakashian, the workshop's owner, is a third-generation Armenian ceramic artist whose family tradition in Jerusalem dates back to 1919, when his grandfather arrived in the city from the Ottoman Empire.
For more than a century, the family has preserved its distinctive craftsmanship, becoming part of the Old City's rich cultural heritage.
But years of conflict have cast a shadow over the century-old business. Since the outbreak of the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, Jerusalem tourism has suffered severely. Karakashian said the number of visitors to his shop has dropped by 90 percent.
Despite the challenges, the family-run workshop remains open daily. Amid the shadow of war, the vibrant flowers and birds painted on the ceramics remain symbols of resilience and hope, reflecting a longing for peace in a city long marked by conflict. (Xinhua/Wang Zhuolun)
An artisan works on a ceramic piece at a century-old Armenian pottery shop run by the Karakashian family in the Old City of Jerusalem, Nov. 7, 2026.
An Armenian pottery workshop in Jerusalem's Old City showcases colorful ceramics featuring traditional floral and bird motifs. Hagop Karakashian, the workshop's owner, is a third-generation Armenian ceramic artist whose family tradition in Jerusalem dates back to 1919, when his grandfather arrived in the city from the Ottoman Empire.
For more than a century, the family has preserved its distinctive craftsmanship, becoming part of the Old City's rich cultural heritage.
But years of conflict have cast a shadow over the century-old business. Since the outbreak of the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, Jerusalem tourism has suffered severely. Karakashian said the number of visitors to his shop has dropped by 90 percent.
Despite the challenges, the family-run workshop remains open daily. Amid the shadow of war, the vibrant flowers and birds painted on the ceramics remain symbols of resilience and hope, reflecting a longing for peace in a city long marked by conflict. (Xinhua/Pang Xinyi)
Hagop Karakashian, an Armenian ceramic artisan, demonstrates traditional pottery-making techniques at his shop in the Old City of Jerusalem, Nov. 7, 2026.
An Armenian pottery workshop in Jerusalem's Old City showcases colorful ceramics featuring traditional floral and bird motifs. Hagop Karakashian, the workshop's owner, is a third-generation Armenian ceramic artist whose family tradition in Jerusalem dates back to 1919, when his grandfather arrived in the city from the Ottoman Empire.
For more than a century, the family has preserved its distinctive craftsmanship, becoming part of the Old City's rich cultural heritage.
But years of conflict have cast a shadow over the century-old business. Since the outbreak of the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, Jerusalem tourism has suffered severely. Karakashian said the number of visitors to his shop has dropped by 90 percent.
Despite the challenges, the family-run workshop remains open daily. Amid the shadow of war, the vibrant flowers and birds painted on the ceramics remain symbols of resilience and hope, reflecting a longing for peace in a city long marked by conflict. (Xinhua/Pang Xinyi)
