Young Mohammed Issa executing pieces of Damascene mosaic bearing the spirit of heritage
The Damascene mosaic craft is one of the oldest ancient professions that the city of Damascus had been famous for throughout history. Mosaic makers and craftsmen still enjoy the ingenuity of forming this art that bears the history of the city and the nobility of its name.
Among the young craftsmen who are still producing pieces of Damascene mosaic that are perfectly executed by the young craftsman, Muhammad Issa from the town of Hammouriyeh in Ghouta of Damascus has been practicing this craft for more than 17 years, when he learned it from “Sheikh Al-Kar”: profession master in Hammouriyeh, Muhammad added: after My mastery of the basics of work and manufacturing, I opened my own workshop in cooperation with my family, where we make wooden products of mosaic decorated and inlaid with mother of pearl and bone to form pieces of home and office furniture such as “saloon furniture, office decorations, bedrooms, chairs, doors, etc.” He pointed out that this craft depends mainly on the imagination of the craftsman in inlaying wood, especially walnut, and transforming it into artistic forms using mother-of-pearl and bone.
On the mechanism of marketing his products, Issa explained that he markets them through exhibitions and bazaars as well as direct sales in his shop, pointing to the pleasure he feels when completing any piece as if it were the first piece, especially that he loves this craft a lot and hopes to preserve the Syrian heritage. Issa concluded his speech by referring to his constant endeavor to develop this craft while preserving the heritage, by inserting letters and Quranic verses on some pieces in a way that adds aesthetics to them and meets the desires of customers.
The Damascenes knew the craft of mosaic industry since the nineteenth century, and this was evident through the great diversity of their wooden products decorated and inlaid with silver, mother-of-pearl and bone.
Among the young craftsmen who are still producing pieces of Damascene mosaic that are perfectly executed by the young craftsman, Muhammad Issa from the town of Hammouriyeh in Ghouta of Damascus has been practicing this craft for more than 17 years, when he learned it from “Sheikh Al-Kar”: profession master in Hammouriyeh, Muhammad added: after My mastery of the basics of work and manufacturing, I opened my own workshop in cooperation with my family, where we make wooden products of mosaic decorated and inlaid with mother of pearl and bone to form pieces of home and office furniture such as “saloon furniture, office decorations, bedrooms, chairs, doors, etc.” He pointed out that this craft depends mainly on the imagination of the craftsman in inlaying wood, especially walnut, and transforming it into artistic forms using mother-of-pearl and bone.
On the mechanism of marketing his products, Issa explained that he markets them through exhibitions and bazaars as well as direct sales in his shop, pointing to the pleasure he feels when completing any piece as if it were the first piece, especially that he loves this craft a lot and hopes to preserve the Syrian heritage. Issa concluded his speech by referring to his constant endeavor to develop this craft while preserving the heritage, by inserting letters and Quranic verses on some pieces in a way that adds aesthetics to them and meets the desires of customers.
The Damascenes knew the craft of mosaic industry since the nineteenth century, and this was evident through the great diversity of their wooden products decorated and inlaid with silver, mother-of-pearl and bone.
NR