House Maroné
Our History
Our story begins in the ancient river lands where our ancestors, an indigenous Babylonian Aramaic people, preserved traditions of craftsmanship through centuries of change. Along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates, generations of our family became known as master gold and silversmiths, engravers, poets, and respected members of their community.
The Amara Gold & Silversmiths
For generations, the city of Amara stood among the great centers of gold and silversmithing in Mesopotamia. Renowned for exceptional engraving, fine jewelry, and masterful metalwork, its Mandaean craftsmen earned a reputation that reached far beyond the banks of the Tigris. The workshops of Amara produced pieces commissioned by merchants, dignitaries, and members of the Ottoman court, the Iraqi and Egyptian royal families, the British royal household, and prominent international figures.
Abbas Amara
Among the many generations of House Maroné, few figures came to represent its values more completely than Abbas Amara.
Born into a family renowned for its gold and silversmithing, Abbas carried forward a tradition that had already endured for centuries. A master craftsman, respected community leader, and father of the celebrated Iraqi poet Lamia Abbas Amara, he embodied the ideals upon which the House of Maroné had long been known.
Abbas Amara of House Maroné with President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Abbas’s reputation extended well beyond the workshops of Amara. As a representative of his community and his city, he had the distinction of meeting President Franklin D. Roosevelt during an official visit, presenting the history and culture of southern Iraq through exhibitions highlighting the region’s people, craftsmanship, and heritage. The meeting reflected not only his personal standing, but the esteem with which the craftsmen and community leaders of Amara were regarded on the international stage.
