Damascene Ajami Rooms: Forgotten Jewels of Interior Design

Ajami paintings are almost universal in the interior decoration of Damascene houses, and this study, done from the stylistic, historical - as well as the technical - points of view, has resulted in a unique and valuable document on the history of Damascus decoration since the 17th century. The incredibly beautiful interiors of these houses bear silent witness to a bygone and almost-forgotten era of urban life in the Near East each one an impressive masterpiece of the artisan's craft. Painted and gilded stone reliefs, tinted plaster and patterned paste work decoration, elaborately painted wood embellished with metal leaf, mother-of-pearl inlays, and mirrors were combined in ever-varying and beautiful ways. Luxurious carpets, cushions, mattresses, small tables and stands, and porcelain and metal objects d'art ensured that the reception rooms were also comfortable living spaces.