19th Century Syrian Damascene Copper & Polychrome Enamel Repoussé Judaica Vase. 

Condition: Commensurate with age. 

Size: 8 x 8 x 7 in. 

#83 #2410 . 

"Khashabiyat madhuwna," otherwise known as Damascene painting or simply ‘Ajami, is a decorative style that may have developed as early as the Mamluk Era in the 13th Century, and can possibly trace its roots back to the Fatimid Caliphate in the 10th Century. In the Ottoman period the craft entered the zeitgeist due to its popular mixture of Arabic, Persian, European, Indian and Turkish design elements. As an integral part of traditional Syrian houses of upper class people in Ottoman times, many of the rooms were decorated with ‘Ajami, with family businesses passing on their knowledge and specific embellishments from generation to generation. The style is created by applying several layers of paint, combining different materials and decorative elements. It is often complemented by opus sectile works, a type of mosaic work that is made of stone, shells and glass elements, as well as complex wood carvings. The interaction between matte and shiny elements and the interplay of light and shadow give these historical rooms, vases, and other artworks their unique character. The many wars and conflicts that have plagued Syria in the modern age have significantly diminished the industry, and surviving pieces from the heyday of the 18th Century are extremely rare. 

This particular piece is broad-rimmed and features colorful Oriental floral shapes on the top and a band of Hebrew and Kabbalistik letters on the bottom half, as well as uncolored incised lettering hidden on the inside. This vase was made by and/or for Jewish Damascans, to serve as a decorative object in their homes. Once numbering in the tens of thousands after the Christian conquest of Jerusalem in 1099 expelled all the Jews to neighboring countries, most Syrian Jews and Sephardim fled the conflicts of the early 20th Century, immigrating to Palestine, the United States, and Latin America. Following the Syrian Civil War in 2011, nearly all remaining Jews left the country, with the 2024 census reporting the number of Jews in Syria as only 3.

Commensurate with age.