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$2,500
An exceptionally decorative Middle Eastern Mamluk Revival brass jewelry or trinket box, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1900–1920, and displaying the elaborate hand-worked ornament associated with Cairoware and Damascene-style Islamic metalwork. The box is constructed in an unusual faceted octagonal form, raised on eight small pointed feet that give the piece an architectural, almost miniature-monument quality. A fitted hinged lid follows the geometry of the body, while a small traditional clasp secures the front. Virtually every visible surface has been embellished by hand. Finely engraved and chased decoration combines Arabic calligraphy, scrolling arabesques, stylized foliage, lotus-like palmettes, interlaced geometric borders and densely patterned grounds. The restrained contrast between the polished raised brass and darker recessed engraving gives the decoration remarkable depth despite the box's relatively intimate scale. The broad calligraphic panels are particularly striking, surrounded by intricate vegetal ornament derived from the decorative vocabulary of historic Islamic metalwork. Additional geometric and arabesque bands continue around the faceted sides and across the lid, allowing the box to be appreciated from every angle. The design belongs to the Mamluk Revival movement, which flourished particularly in Egypt and Syria during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Craftsmen revived the monumental calligraphy, geometric organization and elaborate metal decoration associated with medieval Mamluk works, adapting these traditions to decorative objects created for sophisticated domestic interiors and the international market. Objects of this type are frequently described in the antiques trade as Cairoware, while related Syrian production is often associated with Damascus. Without documented provenance, I would describe the geographic attribution conservatively as Middle Eastern, probably Egyptian or Syrian, rather than assigning it definitively to one workshop or city. The interior is lined in deep red velvet, creating a rich contrast with the warm golden brass exterior and making the box suitable for jewelry, keepsakes or other small valuables. The inscription has previously been identified as “Allah Hafiz,” broadly conveying the sentiment “May God protect you.” Beyond its original function, this is a beautiful small-scale example of Islamic decorative metalwork and would display particularly well on a console, library table or within a collection of Moorish, Ottoman, Egyptian or Middle Eastern objects. The aged brass retains variations in tone, minor surface
