The Damascene mosaic, a unique profession shed by war

A profession inherited from hundreds of years, characterized by Damascus where it added privacy, and urged visitors to move in the streets of ancient Damascus to reach these artifacts, which have become a precious gift and an incomparable souvenir. 

Damascus is the home of the famous mosaic craft, which dates back at least to 700 years, while it was active during the Ottoman period in Syria. 

The Ottomans then tried to monopolize this art, and transfer the industry and the artisans and the elders of this profession to the Ottoman capital of Astana “Istanbul” now.

The artisan Akram Abboud told North-Press about the profession of mosaic: “It is known as the art of inlaying wood with shell, or the so-called mosaic, which is entering shell to particles of different types of wood”.

“The wood is then spread into small sticks that form a bundle of different colors, and then cut into slices and assembled together to form the desired shape”, he added. 

According to Abboud, the development of mosaic art is due to Gerji Bitar, who invented the method of wood inlay in the 19th century. 

He added that Bitar, “established a mosaic center that included dozens of workers who learned this art from him, while many craftsmen graduated from his workshop, and thus the craft moved from generation to generation through craft workshops”.

He stressed that during the nineteenth century, there were more than 1,000 artisans working in this profession.  

Over time, mosaic evolved in the form and coloring along with the development of the tools that make it, Aboud stressed that it was no longer limited to the production of small pieces, but turned to the manufacture of furniture by hand, so craftsmen produced offices, chairs, broad chairs, sofas and reception rooms. 

He pointed out that he adored the profession since he was 15 years old, and learned it by one of the elders of the profession, whom he expressed by saying: “He gave great credit to me and I won’t forget that all of my life”.  

“We use walnut, lemon, rose and beech to make these artifacts”, he said, adding that “in the past, they were inlaying with shell and then wood alone”.

He added: “The method needs skill, ingenuity, patience and love”, noting that, “pieces of furniture are expensive, it is only required by financially capable people, and are usually made upon prior recommendation”.

Akram Abboud takes care of his mosaic pieces, as they are his children, while these furnishings and cupboards can be seen in the official Syrian places and in the old palaces of Damascus. 

“The secret of mosaic lies when the wood is spoken by the carpenter”, he concluded.