Rare Antiques &
Mother-of-Pearl
Masterpieces
Four generations of the Harb family — handcrafted Damascene furniture, Islamic antiques, and museum-quality collector pieces.
Five Curated
Worlds of Beauty
Each collection represents a distinct tradition of artistry — from the luminous inlay of Damascus to the scholarly beauty of Islamic calligraphy.
Signature
Masterpieces
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A Family Tradition
Across Four Generations
Across four generations, the Harb family has been a guardian of rare antiques and the finest mother-of-pearl craftsmanship. Our story begins in late-19th-century Damascus with the painter Abou Sobhi Al-Tinawi, our great-grandfather Muhammad Harb.
Today, we continue this legacy — sourcing museum-quality pieces from across the Islamic world and Europe, preserving the art of shell inlay, and connecting collectors worldwide with objects that carry the weight of history.
Centuries
of Craft
Every piece is the result of techniques refined over centuries — shell, walnut, and silver brought together in five exacting stages, every one performed by hand.
Shell Selection
Each fragment of mother-of-pearl is hand-picked from Red Sea and Persian Gulf shells. Only pieces with the deepest iridescence and uniform thickness earn a place in the pattern.
Hand Carving
The walnut blank is carved by hand using traditional chisels — each channel etched to the precise depth of the inlay that will fill it. A single panel can take weeks of patient work.
Silver Threading
Fine silver wire is drawn through pliers and bent by hand into the carved channels. These metallic threads frame every shell cell and catch light at angles the pearl cannot — a hallmark of the Damascene tradition.
Shell Inlay
Each fragment is cut, fitted, and set with tweezers into its allotted cell. Thousands of pieces per panel — every contour matched to its neighbour with no margin for error.
Polishing
Successive stages of hand polishing — from coarse to mirror-smooth — reveal the iridescence beneath. The finished surface is alive: every shift of light brings a different colour forward.
A Standard
of Excellence
“The Orient Gates is a rare find in the world of antiques — combining deep expertise with impeccable taste and a genuine passion for the extraordinary objects they deal in.
Four generations of Damascene knowledge in authentication, sourcing, and master craftsmanship.
Every object examined with scholarly rigour and restored to museum conservation standards.
Specialist fine art shipping and white-glove delivery to collectors worldwide.
Private viewings, bespoke sourcing, and dedicated advisory for every client.
Acquire Something
Extraordinary
Whether you seek a masterpiece, wish to explore our collection privately, or require bespoke sourcing — our specialists are at your service.
One piece.
One story. Once a month.
A quiet letter from our atelier — a single object, its provenance, and the hands that made it. No promotions, no noise.
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