A measured craft, a geometry of devotion.
 
A fine and quietly intricate example of Syrian Sadeli work from the late 19th century, this micro-mosaic trinket box, c.1880, reveals the remarkable precision of Ottoman-period marquetry from Damascus or Aleppo.
 
The surface is inlaid with bone, ebony, dyed bone, and pewter, its decoration composed of interlocking six-pointed stars, tessellated rosettes, and chevron banding. Each element is arranged with mathematical clarity into a symmetrical, geometric composition - a language of pattern and patience passed through generations of artisans.
 
The box opens to an interior lined with finely planed Lebanon cedar, offering not only a soft aromatic note but also a warmth of tone that contrasts the intricate exterior. Measuring 73mm in length, 34.5mm in width, and 36.5mm in height externally, and 62mm by 23mm by 27.5mm internally (to the lip), it is a piece both intimate in scale and enduring in presence.
 
An artefact of care and quiet mastery, it holds within its small frame the memory of a hand’s steady work and a tradition’s enduring grace.
 
Dimensions:
External: 73mm (L) × 34.5mm (W) × 36.5mm (H)
Internal: 62mm (L) × 23mm (W) × 27.5mm (H to lip)
 
Materials: Bone, ebony, dyed bone, pewter, Lebanon cedar
Provenance: Syrian, late 19th century
Condition: Excellent for its age, with a soft patina and minor signs of wear.