A fine veneered, inlayed table with mother of pearl insets attributed to Liberty & Co of London around the turn of the 19th and early 20th Century. At this time England and London was heavily influenced by the interest in all things exotic and culturally diverse and Liberty became increasingly successful at supplying the late Victorians with their voracious appetite. We are seeing history repeat itself with this fascination and the emergence of a new contemporary boho Chic Style in our modern interiors.

Around the same time The Liberty Style (Stile Liberty) also flourished between 1900 and 1914 and took its name from Arthur Lasenby’s Liberty store that he founded in 1875 in London. The style was derived from forms that were original and exotic, often from North Africa and the Middle East. The most influential figures in this movement were Carlo Bugatti who used an extremely wide range of materials to reflect this interest in exotic and far off lands and the craft that was to be found there.

The table was probably made in Syria and as with much Islamic furniture is characterised by the use of different inlays and geometric designs, sometimes using mother of pearl or bone for affect, perhaps interspersed with Arabesques and other Moorish designs. It’s such a great look with quite a bohemian air to it and fits well with the idea of culturally diverse, chic and exotic interior.

From its name, Syrian furniture originated in Syria during the Islamic period. Even though Syria was a vast kingdom covering places such as Jerusalem, Aleppo had become one of the major furniture-making centres. Some of the furniture pieces produced during that period can be found in religious buildings in Palestine and Syria. The furniture came from a vibrant woodworking industry that existed in Islamic Syria and still exists today. Furniture makers used willow, walnut, oak, and firewood to produce various types of beautiful furniture pieces.

One of the clearest demonstrations of this craft in Syrian and Moorish furniture, are the intricate inlays of mother of pearl and different woods. Whether antique or modern pieces, they are the most beautiful furniture pieces you will find anywhere. The Arabian art of inlaying dates right back to ancient Assyrian and Egyptian empires. From the 7th century, when Damascus was established as the Syrian empire’s capital, the rulers encouraged its citizens to work with mosaics. When the Umayyad Mosque was constructed in the 8th century, artisans used large-scale inlaying, making it one of the most beautiful in the world. Since then, the art of inlaying has taken root in Damascus, resulting in the beautiful Damascan Syrian furniture.

Over the Centuries Master artisans have passed on the craft of inlaying wood and metal to apprentices, through generation to generation, continuing a tradition that is celebrated throughout the world.

Attributed to:

Liberty & Co. (Retailer)

Dimensions:

Height: 17.33 in (44 cm)Width: 10.83 in (27.5 cm)Depth: 10.83 in (27.5 cm)

Style:

Bohemian(Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

HardwoodMother-of-PearlInlayVeneer

Place of Origin:

Syria

Period:

1900-1909

Date of Manufacture:

1900s

Condition:

GoodRefinished. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Professionally repolished. We have placed a spirit level on the table top to demonstrate that the vast majority of the surface is level. There is however a slight dip on the outer edge of the table as demonstrated by the small gap between the level.

Seller Location:

London, GB

Reference Number:

Seller: LU2868327048252

Reviews (0)