Wooden Chest

Contributed by
Maher

"From the moment I pick up raw wood, I already know how I will work with it, how I will shape it—like raising a child, nurturing it step by step until it matures."

0:000:00

For generations, a wooden chest has been a common feature in nearly every old Damascene household. Maher moved from Syria to Jordan due to the war in his homeland. He crafted this piece alongside his sons, a process which has become a way to pass down Syrian identity and heritage to his children. Traditionally crafted from locally sourced wood, Maher now incorporates aesthetically refined materials more fitting to the environment he is in, like walnut in this piece, blended with contemporary touches such as hand-beaten brass. For Maher, wood has a soul; it speaks to him, guiding his hands and allowing him to keep the legacy of Syria alive through his craft. Listen to his story...

Transcript

00:06 In every old Damascene house, there used to be a storage chest. 00:33 Traditional craftsmanship carried a unique soul. 00:42 There was a large wooden chest in my grandparent's house, and as children, we would try to sneak around our grandfather or grandmother to open it and see what was inside. 00:58 Our elders would tell us that these chests were used to store the bride’s trousseau—clothes and valuables—that were carried on people’s shoulders back in the day. 01:13 My grandmother cherished her chest because it safeguarded her gold and valuables. 01:20 It even had a distinctive lock and an unusually shaped key. She would keep it hanging around her neck and lock the chest securely. 01:35 To her, it was more important than anything else in the house because it was the one thing she took with her to her marriage home to start her new life. It was her treasure. 01:49 I was eight when I started in the carpentry profession, and I've been doing that for 39 or 40 years. 01:57 Woodworking is an art—it requires a special sense, one that is developed through touch and sight. Very few people can truly master it. 02:11 The wood has a soul, a grain, and a natural flow that matches the design. 01:25 People come to me with complete trust, saying, "Maher knows exactly how to bring this piece of wood to life." 02:42 From the moment I pick up raw wood, I already know how I will work with it, how I will shape it—like raising a child, nurturing it step by step until it matures. 03:02 The way I treat it is indescribable. I test the wood by dropping it on the ground to listen to the sound it makes. This helps me determine its moisture level. If I need it for a very delicate project, I listen carefully to the sound, I knock on it, and it gives me the answer. 03:29 On many occasions, I don’t need a measuring tape—my eyes and hands give me the right dimensions. 03:41 This sensitivity to wood is something any true carpenter understands, but it's hard to put into words.