Moorish Octagon Walnut Table Inlaid with Camel Bone, Damascus, Syria c. 1880

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About the Item

A handsome walnut table inlaid with an intricate pattern of ivory including a chess board made in Damascus c.1880 in the Moorish taste. Please notice the stunning quality of the inlay that adorns the entire surface of the top and legs. The top of the table is an octagon with the squares of the chess board set directly in the centre and defined by a pale and dark colour in alternate squares. In order to produce the darker colour the artisan stained the ivory black but inlaid it in the same pattern as the white ivory. Surrounding the game board on the four sides is a symmetrical pattern of undulating vines with a variety of leaf shapes. The sensuous curves contrast effectively with the strong geometric layout of the game board both in colour and pattern. The outer edge of the table is a wide band defined by a double row of ebonised (dark stained timber meant to resemble ebony) that encloses a foliate band of waving leafy vines. Placed along the side edge of the table top is a pattern of dark and light pieces of ivory set in a straight line. The esthetic of using designs based on elements of the natural world has long been seen in carpets but Damascus held a special place in the world as it was famous for its production of steel used in weaponry. In fact there is a method of decorating steel in a fantastically laborate manner that is known as "damascening" most famously when using gold set into the steel. Stunning examples of this work may be seen in the collections of Arms and Armour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Wallace Collection in London. Because of the nomadic culture that survived thousands of years in the region of Damascus smaller portable objects were highly prized. This piece is an excellent example as it is in two parts. The base is actually eight separate pieces of walnut joined by hinges to enable it to be folded flat. The top may then be placed on the folded section to make a small and easily carried parcel. Each of the eight sections also feature a surface adorned with ivory inlay in a symmetrical pattern. The top of each leg has a cut out section that resembles the entry portal to a palace along with a horizontal stretcher bar at the base for structural support. These tables were always meant to be seen from all directions so the attention paid to the contrast in materials and form was very important. Although the table may still be used to play a very stylish game of chess it is also an excellent side table to use beside a sofa or chairs where its unusual design may be admired.

Dimensions:
Height: 20.5 in (52.07 cm)Diameter: 21.5 in (54.61 cm)
Style:
Moorish (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Walnut
Place of Origin:
Syria
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
c.1880
Condition:
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: EFH233A1stDibs: U1211058668806

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