What is the story behind the chair that caught attention at Assala's concert in Damascus?

- After nearly 15 years of absence, the Syrian artist Assala Nasri returned to singing in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and held a concert at the Al-Fayhaa Sports Hall, where the chair she sat on drew attention on stage, with its design and details inspired by Damascene heritage. The idea for the design stemmed from the artist's desire to reflect her connection to Damascus, so the Syrian designer Zahir Samir transformed this desire into a piece that combines elements of traditional Damascene craftsmanship with contemporary design.

Samir said in an interview with Afaq News in Arabic that Assala asked him to create a piece that is connected to the city she returned to, so he chose the Damascene rose to be the main element in the design. He explained that the Damascene rose does not merely represent a decorative detail for him, but is linked to the image of the city and what it embodies of beauty, elegance, and emotional uniqueness, so he sought to reintroduce it within a piece that simultaneously preserves the essence of traditional Damascene craftsmanship.

Samir, the owner of the 'Original Antique' furniture factory in Damascus, relied on natural walnut wood and natural mother-of-pearl in the execution of the chair, while the Damascene roses were carved and inlaid throughout the design. The stages of work were carried out manually, from woodworking and carving to mother-of-pearl inlaying and upholstery, in a process that took about 12 weeks.

Samir believed that the chair's appearance on the night of Assala's return to Damascus gave it a value that transcends its function as a piece of furniture, saying: 'For me, this chair is more than just a piece of furniture; it has become part of the story of Assala's return to her city.'