For people looking for a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture to produce a unique ambiance in their homes and make guests ask admiringly where it was bought, there is a showroom in Jeddah which is well worth a visit. Currently, two Lebanese designers whose work combines art, history and home comfort are exhibiting at the Masina House showroom in Jeddah. Lina Bangash, the owner of Masina House, has a mission: To make it the center of the design scene in Jeddah.
“My plan is to turn the showroom into an open forum for new talent and designers. I want to hold periodical exhibitions showcasing creativity which will not be limited only to interior design, but also include other aspects of design such as fashion, product design, visual communication, film making, etc. We have begun this year with the “Silk Road Exhibition,” said Bangash.
What began as one woman’s love of collecting textiles has today become a lucrative and successful business run by two Lebanese women – one with a gift for restoring antique fabrics and the other with the knack of using the embroidered materials on furniture. For Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibri, the traditional tapestries and weaving of Central Asia and the Near East are steeped in history and legend. The Suzannies (which feature very distinctive needlework), brocades and sarma (Ottoman gold embroidery) are eye-catching with their colorful boldness and fine needlepoint, and embody much of the region’s age-old handicraft artistry.
Starting as dedicated collectors, Hoda and Maria were inspired to go a step further by employing these increasingly rare tapestries and weavings on furniture and objets d’art for the modern home; they have produced sofas, chairs, coffee tables, footstools, cushions, lamp shades, wall hangings and mobiles. The fabrics used are between 50 and 100 years old and were all hand-embroidered by Uzbek girls for their dowries. “These are becoming quite rare as it makes many years to produce a single piece. The new suzannies are not half as interesting as the old ones which are never used in the Lebanese artists’ creations,” explained Bangash.
Hoda and Maria have exhibited in many countries in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the US. Their creations are valued by collectors, decorators, members of various royal families and Hollywood stars. Their recent exhibition in New York on 5 December led to wide media coverage in leading fashion and style magazines.
“I found the story of Hoda and Maria very inspiring since they match the values of Masina House which are “developing all kinds of creativity.” Thus, I decided to open the year with their exhibition. In addition, their furniture reflects the Masina House philosophy on furniture and design as means of self-projection, an expression not of status but of art and aesthetics. That’s why, I decided to have a permanent display in Masina House. I want visitors to have a unique and special experience whenever they come to Masina House.” She also invites young designers and talented artists to present their work in her showroom.
Masina House is in Jeddah, off Palestine road behind the Al-Hamra Sofitel Hotel, opposite Patisserie Francaise. For more information: 6675304.