Massive Cairoware Jardinaire, Syria, 19th Century

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Massive Cairoware Jardinaire, Syria, 19th Century

About the Item

Large, impressive and highly decorative example of what is often called 'Cairoware', although most likely made in Syria, as most of these pieces were, in the 19th C. This was a time when the high level metal artistry and craftsmanship from the Mamluk era experienced a serious revival. During the second half of the 19th century, Europeans traveling to or residing in the Middle East began to collect Islamic art, especially works of the Mamluk period (1250-1517). Ironically, the rising popularity of Islamic art among European coincided with Muslim efforts to modernize in the European manner and the subsequent destruction of many old buildings whose furnishings were collected by foreigners. When Mamluk antiquities became scarce, enterprising dealers began making imitative glass and metal works for the foreign trade. In Damascus, the art of inlaying metal, an essential feature of Mamluk style metalwork, was largely in Jewish hands. Works produced during the Mamluk Revival (1878-1914) are based on both the types and decoration of earlier pieces. The shape, designs and workmanship of this jardinaire is similar to those made in the Mamluk era. The division of its surface into distinct fields, each with its own inlaid and engraved decorative scheme, reflects Mamluk models. The aesthetic impact of the work derives both from the bowl’s form and from the shapes and contrasting colors of the various metal inlays employed-copper, silver, and brass. The inlaid Arabic inscriptions are usually proverbs. Between the proverbs are fields bearing decorative arabesques and floral motifs. Later on, the workshops of Damascus became the training ground for artists of the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts, which was founded in Jerusalem by Boris Schatz in 1906.

Similar to:
Mamluke (Metalworker)
Dimensions:
Height: 9 in (22.86 cm)Width: 11 in (27.94 cm)Depth: 9 in (22.86 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Brass,Copper,Silver,Hammered
Place of Origin:
Syria
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1880
Condition:
Minor losses. In truly excellent condition, with original patina and no dents or damage. Very slight, minor losses to silver inlay, not easily visible.
Seller Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU136922639802