Folding chair - Wood - folding chair with mother-of-pearl

A beautiful and highly distinctive Indian folding chair, also known as a Damascus chair or Moorish folding chair, dating from the late 19th or early 20th century. This type of furniture is worldwide known for its exceptional, refined craftsmanship from India and the Middle East and is a beloved item at international art and antique auctions. The chair is fully handmade from a dark hardwood (walnut) and is richly adorned with detailed woodcarving featuring traditional, continuous leaf-shaped patterns and arabesques. The backrest and the seat are decorated with beautifully inlaid mother-of-pearl, forming shiny geometric flowers and six-pointed stars that are characteristic of Islamic art. The backrest flows in an elegant ergonomic arch to the rear and is finished at the top with a richly adorned crest. Just below the crest there is a diamond-shaped cutout with fine, open Mashrabiya woodcarving. At the front of the seat slats there are also subtle, authentic markings/letters (such as "LA" and "RA"), indicating the original artisanal assembly method of the maker. The chair features a clever hinge system with interlocking slats, allowing the piece to be folded completely flat for transport or storage. Condition & Condition Report: The chair is in an authentic antique condition with a beautifully aged patina that testifies to its great age. As is usual with furniture of this age and this type of inlay work, there are a few small wood imperfections and some pearl elements are missing here and there. For full transparency to bidders, the following specific points are noted: Hinge axis: On one side, one of the decorative wooden knobs on the central hinge axis is missing, exposing the metal screw thread pin. This causes the outer slat to have play at that spot and to slide outward (see detail photo). Wood structure: One of the curved wooden slats shows an aging/drying crack along the grain. The wood is not broken, but has developed a fine hairline crack over the years due to drying. The folding mechanism is functional, but due to the aforementioned points this chair should primarily be regarded as a beautiful decorative collectible/display piece and is less suitable for intensive daily use. Please view all detail photos carefully for an accurate impression of the condition; they form an integral part of the description. Specifications & Dimensions: Origin: India Style: Islamic art / Moorish / Ottoman Period: ca. 1890 - 1920 Material: Walnut wood, mother-of-pearl inlay Overall height (open): 103 cm Overall height (folded flat): roughly 120 cm Seat height: roughly 47 cm Seat width: roughly 32.5 cm (total width including knobs approx. 38 cm) Seat depth: roughly 36 cm Shipping: Pickup only

Estimate:$336.13

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