λ AN IMPRESSIVE MOTHER-OF-PEARL AND BONE-INLAID ORIENTALIST MASHRABIYA-STYLE WALL PANEL WITH MIRROR
Egypt, 20th century

Of rectangular shape with lower tiered cabinets on the sides and a taller balustrade frieze with muqarnas decoration in the top centre, resting on a flat rectangular base, the unit divided into three sections, the central panel with a round arch mirror niche within a wooden frame, inlaid with mother-of-pearl geometric roundels with star designs on the squinches, the mirror surmounted by a mashrabiya grid with repeating rows of balustrade-like clusters, carved palmettes enhancing the top panel and openwork scrolling vegetal trellis on the sides, three shelves in each lateral unit alternating round and double ogival arches framed within two-tone decorative bands, the overall composition a triumph of Orientalist furniture embellished with typical Islamic motifs and architectural features blended into a piece of furniture conceived for a Western audience, high 195cm x wide 163cm x deep 35.5cm.

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Provenance: Sotheby's London, 11 February 1987, lot 119 (with purchase invoice).