Antique Syrian Marquetry Side Table – Damascus Hand-Inlay With Raw Mother-of-Pearl, C. 1910–1930s

Details

Description

​A striking, highly detailed example of traditional Levantine craftsmanship, this antique Syrian marquetry side table was handcrafted in Damascus during … Read more ​A striking, highly detailed example of traditional Levantine craftsmanship, this antique Syrian marquetry side table was handcrafted in Damascus during the late Ottoman to early French Mandate period (circa 1900–1930s). Featuring an incredibly dense web of geometric intarsia, micro-mosaic tarsia, and hand-harvested Mother-of-Pearl inserts, this piece perfectly embodies the labor-intensive artistry of historical Syrian woodwork.

​Design & Materials

​The Woodwork: The top panel showcases an intricate Islamic geometric central starburst mandala,
bordered by a ring of stylized palmette/fleur-de-lis motifs and finished with a striking, two-tone "piano key" dentil edge. The rich, figured background wood is traditional regional walnut and fruitwood, contrasted with light lemonwood or boxwood stringing.
​Hand-Nipped Mother-of-Pearl: Unlike mass-produced mid-century export pieces that utilize uniform, mechanically punched shell blanks, the iridescent inserts on this table are completely non-uniform, multi-angled shards hand-chipped directly from raw bivalve shells by the artisan. Natural shell growth ripples and organic contours are beautifully visible under close inspection, emphasizing its un-industrialized origin.

​Authentic Structural "Bones": The underside features robust, hand-cut leg blocks and rough-sawn solid wood planks. It retains its original early 20th-century iron slot-head screws, which exhibit characteristic slight variations in slot depth and off-center alignment from early machine manufacturing and hand-finishing.
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Condition Report

​Excellent Antique Condition: The structural joinery is stable, tight, and completely sound. All hand-set wood inlays and mother-of-pearl shards are securely seated.
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Finish Note: To preserve the intricate inlay work for the long term, the table’s top surface received a professional, high-clarity clear varnish/lacquer topcoat later in its lifecycle. This protective layer beautifully fills the natural micro-gaps of the hand-cut shell while highlighting the vivid, wavy figure of the walnut background.
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Minor Wear: Light, age-appropriate oxidation on the underside hardware and minor surface character marks on the hand-shaped leg apron consistent with a century of careful display. See less