ORNAMENTAL CHEST

Inspired by the Syrian ivory shakmajiyyah, traditionally used for jewelry, this chest is an original design. It is constructed of wood and covered with 1 mm thick brass plates attached to the wood with hand-lathed brass studs.

The design is etched with pierced openwork. The central side panel is formed of four rounded arches with inset openwork alternating between geometrical and floral arabesques on a copper background, surrounded by a border of interlace. The use of arches was inspired by a 14th-century door on Sharqawy Street in Cairo. The etching on the arches is an interlacing triangular pattern containing trefoils. Etched columns and star capitals support the arch.

Roundels containing a curvilinear geometrical pattern interrupt an upper band of openwork calligraphy. The inscription is of the Muslim Declaration of Faith: "There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah".

The lower band is formed of alternating geometrical patterns joined by square floral ornaments from engraving found on a 16th-century copper tray belonging to Sultan Barqooq.

Hand-lathed ornamental studs that fasten the brass plates to the wood interrupt a border of etched arabesque patterns, formed of a 2 cm wide strip of brass, 1 mm thick. The end plate ornamentation follows the same pattern, but with two arches instead of four.

The lid ornamentation uses the same motifs as on the side panels but with three large cartouches formed from two rounded arches connected by star capitals on a central field of geometric openwork arabesque. Roundels containing curvilinear geometric patterns join the cartouches at the ends and sides. The lid border is identical to the lower band of alternating geometric patterns joined by square interlacing floral ornaments found on the sides. The side panels of the lid are etched with geometric arabesques.

The interior of the box is divided into compartments covered in fabric.

BOX-18/19/20