Persian Walnut Table Inlaid with Mother of Pearl, Damacus, Syria c.1880

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Persian Walnut Table Inlaid with Mother of Pearl, Damacus, Syria c.1880

About the Item

A superlative example of the stunning tables created in the city of Damacus, Syria c.1880. The table has an eight sided top and an eight leg base with an extravagant pattern of inlay featuring precious mother-of-pearl. This natural product of the abalone shell was highly prized for its depth of glittering reflection and its ability to be cut into small pieces to create intricate designs similar to the decoration on this table. The entire table top is divided geometrically into a series of balanced panels all bordered with strips of inlaid timber. The mother-of-pearl is cut into regular geometric shaped pieces and then assembled to create larger designs. Please notice that in the centre of the table there is also an octagonal panel that matches the profile of the table top filled with mother-of-pearl and an Arabic inscription. Without translating this was usually a name as often these tables were given as gifts and the greater the workmanship the greater the value of the gift. The base of the table has eight sides to match the octagon shaped top and are recessed beneath the top. Each side has a rectangular border with an interesting pattern of long and short pieces of wood set within the long lines of the edge. At the top of the border and enclosed within a square panel is a pattern of sixteen smaller squares that feature a mirror image of the mother-of-pearl set in opposition to the walnut. The change in reflectivity creates a unique pattern as the eye moves across the surface. As each side descends to the ground they transform into legs that embody the shape of a portal seen within the palaces and dwellings in the area. The seductive curves are first outlined and then framed with a lighter coloured wood inlay in the form of curving foliage. The top has a similar pattern of foliage surrounding the abalone shell inlaid motifs and this repetition of design shows the artisan’a attention to detail. It is fascinating to see that at every vertical join between the eight sides there is a contrasting pattern of light and dark wood to delineate the change in angle. There is an unexpected aspect to this table because the top is actually a lid that raises on a hinge to reveal an interior upholstered in a red silk. The underside of the lid has an eight sided section with a tufted pattern of the fabric while the interior well has smooth sides of the fabric. This was chosen to protect the needlework that was kept inside that would not have fared well rubbing against a plain wooden interior. Work boxes like this were a usual feature in English and French households but it is unusual to see in a table of this sort. Nowadays of course this table will be a great addition to a room where a television is used as all the remote controls could easily live within the soft sided interior. The exotic nature of this table will add a definite note of unexpected glamour to any well designed space.

Dimensions:
Height: 21 in (53.34 cm)Width: 16 in (40.64 cm)Depth: 16 in (40.64 cm)
Style:
Islamic (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Mother-of-Pearl,Walnut
Place of Origin:
Syria
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
c.1880
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: EFH233B1stDibs: U1104188668467