Post-Nazari marquetry boxes. Spain, XIX century.

Post-Nazari marquetry boxes. Spain, XIX century.Marquetry and bone inlay. Measurements: 8,50 x 17,50 x 11 cm (large), 4 x 12 x 9,50 cm (small).
Boxes of Granada manufacture, from around the 19th century, with typical synthesized decoration, borders and geometric ornaments. Prismatic format and hinged lid.The Nasrid dynasty ruled Granada and the territory of al-Andalus for more than 200 years and oversaw a splendid artistic patronage that is still greatly admired today. The Nasrids developed a sophisticated visual language based on complex geometric designs such as the one presented here.The inlay technique consists of creating mosaics and other figurative elements through the application of different materials that, combined together, create geometric shapes and drawings of infinite forms. In this way, the different pieces fit perfectly together. To do this, the artisans make several large pieces in which they join the different materials to form the desired pattern. They are then cut into thin sheets, which will be combined with others and finished with metals, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoiseshell, bone, etc. In some cases gold and silver are used, and they can have hundreds of different elements. Its origin seems to be in Mesopotamia around 3000 B.C., but it was brought to Spain and Granada by the Muslims. In this city, in particular, this technique has been configured as its own.