Inlaid five-drawer chest

With the rise of Western influences, European-style furniture began to enter the homes of Damascus’ upper class. The furniture that was made in Damascus was marketed to wealthy Syrians as well as Europeans living in Syria. These chests were used as storage for a bride’s dowry in preparation for her wedding and after the wedding they were used for linens and cloths. The designs and decorations of these pieces of furniture were largely based on arabesque, floral, animal, and geometric designs.

This magnificent chest has five drawers, the top one extends across the entire width of the piece while the remaining four are slightly smaller and equal each other in width. The inlay work features lions and deer beside the more typical flowering vines.