Aghabani tablecloths

It is not only the food on the plates that make a Syrian table so recognisable and unique. There is a specifically Syrian phenomenon lying beneath those plates. Aghabani tablecloths are colourful, hand-embroidered tablecloths that are as beautiful as they are original. They have been made for the past 150 years. Traditionally, they were made from white or saffron-coloured silk, and embroidered with gold or silver motifs of flowers, leaves, boughs and trees. The patterns are inspired by the flora in the area where they are made.