The artistry of Yahya

Marrakech is literally brimming with artisans and designers who, with age-old Moroccan traditions and techniques, create beautiful metal work and decorative lamps, but none match Yahya for his artistry and refined elegance.

Yahya's work is utterly unique and has become a phenomenon. For me, it is typified with the most striking detail on his lamps and their extraordinary shadowplay.

When Yahya designed his first collection just over six years ago and discretely opened a boutique here in Marrakech, his work proved to be an instant success and all the stock sold straightaway.

Since then Yahya has grown into an institution. Clients from all over the world queue up for his work and all the pieces he makes are undertaken strictly to order and meticuously crafted in his Marrakech workshop.

From chandeliers of exceptional size, requiring months of refined work, to the smallest engraved box demanding exacting and painstaking attention to detail, all of Yahya's creations are unique pieces arising from his passion for beautifully crafted and finished work.

Elegant proportions, subtle, imaginative and effective use of light, sobriety yet richness of design, nobility of materials and a jeweller's meticulous precision characterise his work. With their beautiful hand-finish, each piece Yahya creates, from the smallest to the specially comissioned oversized works of art, becomes a collector's item.


Everything Yahya produces is hand made in either bronze, nickel or silver. It is often difficult to believe that his creations aren't machine made, given how precise and delicate the craftsmanship is, but actually all the detailing on the metal work is sawn by hand with tiny jewellery saws.

To ensure the optimum level of quality and consistency of the output from his workshop, Yahya surrounds himself with highly qualifed and creative staff. Yayha personally selects and trains them from all across Morocco, choosing only the best artisans and engineers in their fields.

In his workshop, where each department carefully controls each and every stage of production and finishing, the same care is taken for the smallest order as for a project lasting many months.

It is the most curious fact that Yahya is actually a self-taught designer.

He was born in London to a Moroccan Jewish father and an Anglo-German mother. Originally he was martial arts instructor and night club entrepeneur, who having embraced Islam on his travels, discovered an artistic side and love for design on a trip to Morocco.

The passion that was kindled here eventually led him to settle in Marrakech with his wife and six children, and the rest, as they say, is history!

For more details on Yayha and his work, here are his contact details:

Yahya Creation - 61 Rue De Yougoslavie, Magazin 49/50 Passage Ghandouri, Gueliz, Marrakech +212 (0) 524422776 / www.yahyacreation.com

I would highly recommend visiting the Yahya showroom. It is a fascinating place to check out. The lighting and shadow effects of the pieces on show, (created with more pronounced and even LED lighting) are quite something.