Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Damascus, SANA- Damascenes are known and endowed with a good reputation in wood inlaying craft, the ancient Syrian craftsmanship in which the grandfathers innovated a lot of methods to improve and maintain it to be shifted to the grandchildren throughout time.
Since the 19th century, Damascenes have known this craft through a wide range of its wooden products inlaid with silver, shell and bone to make home and office furniture.
The Syrian craftsman is distinguished with this craft which has been attached historically to Damascus, where in the past he made the most beautiful antiques inlaying in seashells, gold, silver and tin and is still producing splendor
artistic icons to keep it.
Wood inlaying craft is a very ancient and distinguished Damascene handmade craft, where it brought together the art and profession, a specialist in wood inlaying, Arafat Utta Bashi told SANA.
He added that he has been working in this craft since he was 9 years old, adding that he adores this craft although he has studied Civil Engineering.
He pointed out that wood inlaying passes through several stages and furniture, particularly sofas which are usually inlaid in seashells, adding that these sofas dubbed: al Istanbul (Turkish- styled), Arabesque, English, Marie Antoinette and other names.
Furniture inlaying in seashells witnesses nowadays a growing demand because the Syrian expatriates yearn to their grandfathers’ homes that were furnished with such furniture.
Mosaic workshops spread since the 19th century all over the old city of Damascus as the number of people employed in this craft increased to over 28 thousand people in the mid-20th century who supplied the market with large quantities of products.
Reem Abdul-Kareem/Barry
