It has been indicated several times in the past that Abdo Nahat & Sons' label didn't bear any hint insinuating that they made music instruments.
The Nahat Bros' partnership was first established in 1880 as a carpentry shop, not a luthiery, and this was their main profession. Making ouds, and
later on even Qanuns, came as a consequence of their occupancy and wood engaged artifacts.
The printed famous label stated as follows (e.g. see here : http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=16587)
"Carpentry Shop Established in 1880
Manufactures all excellent Oriental artifacts and orders, fairly and decently priced,
in comparison with the precision and durability. Trial is the best evidence.
Abdo George Nahat & Sons, Damascus, Syria".
In the past, I have written, among other things about what is it all about Nahat ouds, that:
"The makers took advantage of their know-how and trained skills in the industry of manufacturing oriental furniture, decorations and interleave
wood-wood and wood-ivory &/or mother of pearl, etc. in their ouds, so it turned to be, along with its durability and tonal qualities, a
distinctive artwork of beauty, precision and good taste. They have spared no effort in wood carving, decorations, stylization and interlock,
indifferent to the time they'd spend on such works, provided that their product turns to be a piece of art, just like their other oriental artifacts.
They also made use of motifs that were originally prepared for manufacturing their oriental crafts, such as tables, chairs, side-lamps, etc. - in the
oud, which spared them a lot of effort required to make such motifs specifically for ouds, as these units were manufactured in the form of rods,
sliced cross and inlayed in their products. These sophisticated oriental motifs were needed for both, oud or other artifact, supplementing each
other".
( http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=13688#pid93... , BTW very recommended)
For the first time on the web &/or ever, in a very rare unprecedented finding right from the most sacred chamber in Syria, here
are some of Abdo Nahat's furniture and artifacts we came across yesterday. It's Abdo Nahat & Sons' Chair & Table made as gifts to His
Beatitude Respectful Mr. Alexandros, The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and the rest of the East, in August 6, 1932.
Some of the ornaments reminded me of Elias Nahat's, previously published here in Nahat in Brazil thread (here: http://www.mikeouds.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=9897&pa... ).
Once you look at these marvelous ornaments of these items, you'd see ouds jumping all over the place. Take a look
I hope you enjoy these findings as I did
Yours indeed
Alfaraby