Memorabilia

This is an antique traditional metal box used for storing jewelry, sweets, or betel leaves. It is likely handcrafted and originates from North Africa or South Asia. The box features intricate hand-engraved geometric and floral patterns, a hinged lid, and a decorative finial on top. It is typically made of white metal or silver-plated copper. This piece is generally dated from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, and it is considered an old item that reflects traditional craftsmanship and heritage design.

This is an old metal basin, likely made of copper iron, which was traditionally used for household purposes such as washing or storing and carrying water. It features an oval shape with a wide, flared rim and sturdy side handles for easy handling. The surface shows natural signs of aging in the form of oxidation or patina, indicating long-term use and age.

This instrument is a type of old brass bugle, most likely a circular mellophone or alto tenor horn used as a substitute for the French horn in traditional bands. It features a round coiled brass body with three piston valves and produces a mid-range sound typical of marching and military brass ensembles. This type of instrument was commonly used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in military and brass bands, making it a historical piece that reflects the evolution of brass musical instruments during that era.

The item is a vintage wicker picnic basket, commonly known as a hamper-style suitcase basket, popular between the 1940s and 1970s. It is typically handcrafted from woven rattan or wicker, featuring a sturdy rectangular body, a top carrying handle, and a secure latch closure. The natural cross-weave design often combines light and dark fibers, giving it a classic rustic appearance. Many of these baskets were sold as complete picnic sets, with an interior lined in fabric—often gingham—and fitted straps designed to hold plates, cups, and utensils for two to four people, making it both a practical outdoor dining set and a charming decorative collectible today.

These are two vintage Snow Mountain insulated food jars, made in Shanghai, China, dating back to approximately the 1970s–1980s. They feature an enameled metal exterior with a glass vacuum liner inside, designed to keep food hot or cold for extended periods. Each jar includes a sturdy metal handle for easy carrying and a tightly sealed lid. This type of container was commonly used for storing meals during travel or work.

This mask is a vintage Mexican folk art piece, traditionally used in ceremonial dances and cultural festivities. It features a dark-painted face decorated with red floral motifs and yellow or gold accents, a style commonly associated with regions like Sierra de Puebla and Oaxaca. The expressive details, including the painted mustache and prominent eyes, are characteristic of masks used in performances such as Danza de los Negritos. Typically handcrafted from carved wood or papier-mâché, these masks were used to portray symbolic characters in rituals and festivals, and today they are valued as distinctive cultural collectibles and decorative pieces.

These vintage vinyl records represent a diverse mid-20th-century collection from the Middle East and Iran, primarily in the 7-inch, 45 RPM format. The selection features notable artists and influential regional labels from Egypt, Iran, and Lebanon, reflecting a rich era of musical production. Among the identifiable pieces is a red-labeled record by Iraj on the Mercori label, known for its prominence in Iranian music during the 1960s–70s. The yellow-labeled disc belongs to the Egyptian Nefertiti label, which released works by celebrated artists such as Nagat El-Saghira and Shadia. Another record is associated with the Omar El Khayam label, linked to Lebanese and Egyptian productions of the same era, while the marbled green and blue discs originate from the Abdul Rahma Phone label, known for regional folk and pop releases.

This sculpture depicts the mythological lovers Cupid and Psyche in an ascending romantic pose symbolizing love and the union of the soul. It is inspired by classical European sculpture and is typically made of bronze or resin with an antique-style finish.

These pieces are vintage-style lorgnette opera glasses, a type of handheld theatre binoculars popular in opera houses and theaters during the late 19th to early 20th century. They feature a dark metal frame, likely made of brass or a similar alloy, with small round lenses in a compact and lightweight design. Each piece includes a folding handle—one in glossy black and the other in a cream tone with subtle marbling—suggesting decorative materials such as early plastic or imitation ivory. One pair also displays green-and-white striped barrels, adding a refined decorative touch typical of Victorian or Edwardian craftsmanship.

This set consists of three traditional Arabic coffee pots known as a Dallah, likely made from brass or copper and showing signs of age that enhance their authentic vintage appeal. The pots come in graduated sizes, suggesting they were intended as a matching serving set. Each piece features the classic form: a rounded body, slender neck, long curved spout, and a hinged lid with a decorative finial. Based on their style and material, these pieces likely date to the mid-20th century (circa 1940s–1960s). They reflect the central role of Arabic coffee in Gulf culture, where they are used in social gatherings as a symbol of hospitality and generosity, and are also valued today as collectible decorative items.

These objects are vintage military water bottles, commonly known as India Pattern canteens, used by British and Commonwealth forces during World War I and World War II. They feature a distinctive kidney-shaped body, typically made of aluminum or enamelled metal, and were protected by a thick felt cover designed to be soaked in water to help keep the contents cool through evaporative cooling. Each canteen originally had a narrow metal neck fitted with a cork or metal stopper, often secured with a chain or cord to prevent loss. These items are historically significant military field equipment, widely issued to soldiers in the British Indian Army and other Commonwealth units.

This railway signal lamp is a mid-20th-century piece of equipment, commonly associated with Indian railways around the 1940s. It was designed for practical field use, featuring a sturdy metal body and glass lenses that allow it to display multiple signal colors—typically red, green, and yellow—to communicate instructions to train drivers during operations such as shunting and track control. The lamp originally operated using an internal oil burner or candle, providing reliable illumination before the widespread use of electric signaling systems.

This item is a classic mechanical brass bulb horn widely used in the early 20th century on vintage cars, taxis, and bicycles before electric horns became standard. It features a polished brass trumpet with a curved bugle-style body and a decorative perforated front grille, along with a squeezable rubber bulb. When the bulb is pressed, air is forced through an internal reed, producing a loud traditional honk sound.

This vase is a beautiful example of Minakari (Meenakari), a traditional Persian enamel art form used to decorate ceramic surfaces with detailed hand-painted floral and geometric patterns. Its origins date back to ancient Persia, with the art reaching its peak during the Safavid period (16th–18th century), before continuing to evolve in Iranian craft centers such as Lalejin. The vase features a bulbous body, slender neck, and scalloped rim, richly decorated with vibrant colors that highlight the skill of traditional artisans. Today, it is mainly valued as a decorative art piece representing the elegance and cultural heritage of Persian craftsmanship.

The image shows a group of traditional handcrafted dolls representing Gulf cultural attire, with a central male figure dressed in a white thobe and a head covering resembling a ghutra, featuring simple painted facial details including a mustache, surrounded by several female dolls wearing black abayas and colorful head coverings in shades of green, blue, red, and yellow adorned with golden trim, all made from fabric with softly padded forms and mounted on small round bases, reflecting a folk-art style that captures the heritage, daily life, and traditional identity of the Arabian Gulf region.

These two hand-carved wooden eagle sculptures show finely detailed craftsmanship, with carefully sculpted feathers and expressive forms that highlight the skill of the artisan. Each eagle is posed in a strong, alert stance on a natural-looking base, giving the pieces a sense of strength and presence. The wood has a warm, aged patina that enhances their antique appearance and decorative appeal. These works are associated with traditional Indian wood carving craftsmanship, known for producing detailed and expressive wooden animal sculptures.

This is a vintage hand-carved Marwari horse figurine, crafted in the traditional folk-art style of India, most likely originating from the Rajasthan region. The sculpture is typically made from solid hardwood such as mango wood or mahogany, and is richly decorated with brass or copper fittings, sometimes including bone inlay details. It represents the Marwari horse, a rare and culturally significant breed known for its distinctive inward-curving ears. Many examples feature ornamental detailing such as engraved metal plates, floral or heart-shaped motifs, and a decorative chain-style rein. While commonly produced as mid-20th-century (c. 1940–1970) vintage reproductions, the design is rooted in much older regional artistic traditions.

This image shows a traditional Jambiya (Khanjar), a curved dagger with deep cultural significance across the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in Yemen, Oman, and parts of Saudi Arabia. It is characterized by its distinctive curved, double-edged blade and an ornate scabbard, richly decorated with intricate geometric designs and fine silverwork, often crafted from silver or silver-plated materials. The hilt appears to be made from horn and is enhanced with decorative metal accents, adding to its refined aesthetic. Beyond its functional origins, the Jambiya holds strong cultural value as a symbol of heritage, social status, and identity, traditionally worn by men as part of formal attire during ceremonies, celebrations, and important cultural occasions.

A traditional mortar and pestle used in many cuisines around the world for grinding spices, herbs, and crushing ingredients to release their flavors. It is usually made from wood, stone, or metal, allowing either light or heavy grinding depending on use. In this case, the mortar is made of wood and painted red on the outside, with a large wooden pestle that makes grinding and pounding easier. It is an essential tool for preparing spice blends and seasonings in various culinary traditions, including Arabic and Indian cooking.

This is a vintage manual hand drill, commonly known as an eggbeater drill due to its resemblance to old-fashioned kitchen beaters. It was widely used in woodworking before electric drills became standard. The tool operates via a side crank that turns a gear system, converting hand motion into rotary drilling action. This particular model features a red-painted metal frame, a large rear wooden handle for stability, a smaller crank handle for operation, and an additional side wooden grip for better control. Its exposed gearing allows for smooth, precise speed control while drilling.

The object is a traditional wooden spinning top, widely known as a lattu, bambaram pambaram, or trompo in different regions. It is typically made of carved wood with painted decorative patterns. The bottom features a sharp metal tip that serves as the pivot for spinning, while a strong cotton string is wrapped around the body to launch it into motion.

An antique wooden hand plane used by carpenters for smoothing, shaping, and finishing wood surfaces. It features a solid hardwood body (commonly beech or olive wood) with a fixed metal blade secured by a wooden wedge. This traditional tool comes in several forms, including block planes for small detail work, smoothing planes for fine finishing, and jack planes for general-purpose wood removal.

This is a set of old iron tools used in traditional blacksmithing and metal shaping work. It includes several tapered rods known as drifts or reaming tools, which were used to enlarge and align holes during the fitting or forming of metal parts. The set also features a larger stepped tool that likely served as a punch or marking aligning aid before drilling or during heavy hammering processes. These tools are characterized by their solid, heavy-duty construction, designed to withstand strong impacts, indicating their use in traditional forges or early industrial metalworking workshops that relied on manual iron shaping techniques.

This contemporary ceramic vase features a rounded, bulbous form covered in a textured, honeycomb-like green surface. It is created by Qatari artist Ahmed Al Haddad, known for combining traditional ceramic techniques with modern, organic and architectural forms. His works have been exhibited in galleries such as Al Markhiya Gallery in Doha, including pieces that explore patterns, materiality, and abstract natural growth. The surface treatment of this vase echoes sculptural ceramic traditions associated with artists like Axel Salto, whose work is known for biomorphic, nature-inspired textures. Instagram: @ahmeds_art.qa This piece is from the First Ceramics Forum organized by Mahdi Gallery, held from January 8 to 15, 2026.