Our story begins in late-19th-century Damascus with the painter Abou Sobhi Al-Tinawi — our great-grandfather Muhammad Harb. For over 150 years and four generations, our family has guarded two crafts: the art of mother-of-pearl inlay, and the scholarship of rare Islamic, European and Asian antiques.
Every piece we make passes through five stages, every one by hand. Shell is selected from the Red Sea and Persian Gulf for its iridescence; walnut is carved with traditional chisels; fine silver wire is bent into carved channels; thousands of shell fragments are set one by one; and successive polishing reveals the light beneath. A single panel can take weeks.
Most of what you see here is one of a kind — vintage and antique pieces gathered and authenticated over decades. If a piece has sold, or you wish to own it brand new, we accept made-to-order commissions in our family workshop: message us and we will craft it for you. Every order ships worldwide, fully insured, free of charge — from our hands to your home.