THE STORY OF MAISON DE
What does " MAISON DE " MEANS ?
Maison De is a French name that means HOUSE OF, the pronounce of MAISON is “Meson”
OUR HISTORY
Maison De Handmade Crafts & Antiques Shop is uniquely positioned as a top-performing non-profit company in design markets in Syria, Lebanon, and Kuwait, with more than 40 workers, 30 of whom are women.
Maison De was created in 2008 as a non-profit social movement organization with the mission of working towards a more just and humane world. We have worked hard for the social and economic development of local Syrian artisans, especially women, by providing sustainable solutions that help support artistry and preserve the cultural traditions of craft. Since our creation, we have supported more than 1,000 artisans across the Syrian territory and in Lebanon, mostly in remote rural areas, and saved several crafts from extinction.
And now, in AUSTRALIA, we have a new beginning and renewed hope to continue this important work.
OUR EXHEBITIONS
OUR MISSION
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Our mission is to deliver handcrafted luxury and unique, exclusive pieces to our clients.
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Our universal, guiding mission is to keep culture alive and artisans active.
We create connections and open up possibilities.
Sandra Agobian, Founder
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She started working in Syria in 1998. At that time, it was rare to see women in the Syrian workforce.
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She is a passionate antique dealer who brings over ten years of practical experience as a collector and dealer of a variety of antiques.
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She worked as a volunteer assistant in many museums in Syria and Lebanon.
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She is a successful business owner of the Maison De Handmade Crafts & Antiques Shop. A uniquely positioned top-performing non-profit company in design markets in Syria, Lebanon, and Kuwait, with more than 40 workers, 30 of whom are women.
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She constantly works to develop her craft and deepen her knowledge of antiques. Her passion drives her continuous pursuit of knowledge concerning the origin and history of all kinds of antiques and handcrafts.
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She also does interior design for homes and crafts pieces of furniture.
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She works for the revival of traditional handicrafts through successful marketing that initially covered Syria, expanded to Lebanon and Kuwait, and now has grown to include Australia.
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She specializes in quality repairs and restoration to porcelain, wood, French polishing and old watches.
know me better
Welcome! My name is Sandra, and I am passionate about antiques and handcrafts. I love designing one-of-a-kind pieces that are inspired by a contemplation of the artifacts and cultures of ancient civilizations through a modern lens. I do not now, nor wish to in future, mass produce my creations. This allows me to create contemporary pieces, unparalleled in today’s market, that are rare and unique to each customer.
The study of our histories and cultures is important to me because they have formed a part of who we are. Antique pieces leave me with a feeling of enchanted amazement. These pieces show us a glimpse of our evolutionary past and our collective history.
Current fashionable statements do not speak to me. I feel that they make too many homes/styles look the same. I search/design for the rare pieces that seem to have been made just for me. Finding those pieces feels like stumbling upon my own personal treasure.
This is the feeling that I want to give to my customers. I want them to feel as if they always have unique pieces that give their home the gift of a personalized style reflecting their sense of identity.
I began work at 18. In my home country, Syria, life was difficult. I believed, however, that we could create personal victories when up against a harsh reality by taking what resources we had and adapting them to craft the best possible world we could for ourselves.
In a country where you rarely see women working or reaching achievements, I dreamed of owning my own business.
I fought and worked hard to achieve my dream, and in 2008 Maison De was founded as a non-profit organisation. This was formed as part of a social movement with the goal of working towards a more just and humane world.
I worked towards the social and economic development of local Syrian artisans, especially women, by providing sustainable solutions that help support artistry and preserve the cultural traditions of craftsmanship.
Over the years, I built a value chain that enabled us to reach artisans all over Lebanon. I was not only involved in designing, developing and selling but also often located and trained other rural artisans. They were searching for ways to support themselves and their families. The types of artisans I partnered with came from communities across Lebanon, Syria, ranging from well-established artisan workshops to independent women working from home.
My work was remarkably successful enabling me to provide support and development to more than 500 women while ensuring the survival of 50 different types of artisan and cultural crafts that were on the verge of extinction.
When the war began in Syria, many were lost and so was my ability to continue my work. I moved to Australia in 2017 and began to rebuild my business from the ground up. I relied on my previous experience and suppliers for this new beginning while working to support the craft industry within Australia. I also began to import and collect antique pieces from around the world to bring a diversity of cultures together.