About the Piece
A striking late 19th-century Egyptian Moorish Revival folding chair, circa 1880, finely handcrafted in carved walnut and accented with delicate mother-of-pearl and shell inlay. The chair has an unusually architectural silhouette composed of slender carved wooden slats forming the tall curved back, seat and folding X-form support. Throughout the walnut are intricate hand-carved foliate and geometric motifs, punctuated by small mother-of-pearl star and floral inlays that catch the light against the richly aged dark wood. The elaborate crest is particularly decorative, with pierced carving, geometric ornament and a prominent band of Arabic calligraphic decoration. The combination of carved wood, pierced ornament, calligraphy and shimmering shell inlay reflects the highly decorative vocabulary associated with Egyptian and Middle Eastern Moorish Revival furniture of the late 19th century. Its folding construction gives the chair an especially sculptural quality. When opened, the curved slatted framework creates a dramatic continuous profile from the tall back through the seat and crossed supports to the decorative feet. Although functional in conception, today it is equally compelling as a collectible piece of Islamic decorative art or an accent chair. The walnut retains a warm, beautifully developed antique patina with surface variation and wear accumulated over more than a century. Several areas of mother-of-pearl inlay are missing, together with other minor age-related losses, as visible in the photographs. These imperfections have been retained rather than over-restored and contribute to the authentic historic character of the chair. At approximately 40 inches high, the chair has considerable visual presence while remaining relatively narrow. It would work particularly well as an architectural accent in a Mediterranean, Moorish, Spanish Colonial, Moroccan-inspired or eclectic interior, placed in an entry hall, library, bedroom or alongside a writing desk. A distinctive example of late 19th-century Egyptian carved and inlaid furniture, combining Islamic decorative motifs, Arabic calligraphy, traditional woodworking and mother-of-pearl ornament in a highly sculptural folding form. Dimensions: 40 in. H × 15 in. W × 18 in. D Seat height: 19 in. Condition: Good antique condition with wear consistent with age and use. Some mother-of-pearl and shell inlay is missing, with minor losses and surface wear. Please refer closely to the photographs for condition and surviving inlay. Origin Egypt Period Late 19th Century Date Circa 1880 Style Moorish / Moorish Revival Primary Material Walnut Additional Materials Mother-of-Pearl, Shell Techniques Hand-Carved, Hand-Crafted, Inlaid, Pierced Category Seating → Chairs → Side Chairs / Folding Chairs Color Dark Brown / Walnut Condition Good Condition Notes Wear consistent with age and use; minor losses; areas of mother-of-pearl/shell inlay missing antique Egyptian chair, Moorish folding chair, mother-of-pearl inlaid chair, carved walnut chair, Islamic furniture, Arabic calligraphy furniture, Middle Eastern furniture, Moorish Revival furniture, 19th-century Egyptian furniture, Islamic decorative arts.
