Antique Moorish Folding Chair with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay, Middle Eastern

Details

Description

An exceptionally decorative late 19th-century Middle Eastern folding chair, circa 1880, finely handcrafted in carved wood and embellished with delicate … Read more An exceptionally decorative late 19th-century Middle Eastern folding chair, circa 1880, finely handcrafted in carved wood and embellished with delicate mother-of-pearl inlay.

The chair is constructed in the traditional folding or X-frame form, with an unusually tall, slender back composed of multiple carved vertical splats. The elongated silhouette terminates in an elaborate pierced and carved crest featuring scrolling arabesques, foliate ornament and a central stylized motif characteristic of Moorish and Islamic decorative arts.

Throughout the dark wood surface, small mother-of-pearl inlays form delicate star and floral motifs, creating luminous points of contrast against the richly aged brown patina. The seat is similarly decorated with geometric carving and scattered inlay, while the folding supports continue the carved and inlaid decoration almost to floor level.

The combination of pierced carving, arabesque ornament, geometric decoration and mother-of-pearl inlay relates to furniture produced throughout the Eastern Mediterranean during the later Ottoman period, particularly in workshops associated with Egypt, Syria and Lebanon. Without a maker's mark or documented provenance, I would describe the origin conservatively as Middle Eastern / Eastern Mediterranean, rather than assigning it definitively to Egypt or Lebanon.

The chair retains a particularly appealing antique surface with visible age, wear and areas of missing inlay consistent with its approximately 140-year history. These imperfections contribute to the authentic character and should be retained rather than heavily restored.

A striking example of late 19th-century Islamic revival and Moorish decorative furniture, suitable as a collector's object, occasional chair, sculptural accent or decorative piece in an eclectic, Mediterranean, Moorish or contemporary interior.

Circa: 1880
Seat dimensions: approximately 13 in. × 14 in.
Materials: Carved wood, mother-of-pearl inlay
Condition: Antique condition with age-related wear, surface variation and losses to some of the inlay; attractive original patina.

Period: Late 19th Century
Date: circa 1880
Style: Moorish / Islamic / Ottoman
Origin: Middle East / Eastern Mediterranean
Techniques: Hand-carved, pierced, inlaid
Materials: Wood, mother-of-pearl
Category: Chairs / Folding Chairs / Islamic Furniture

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