This door panel represents a composite in which late Mamluk and early Ottoman panels and plaques were re purposed within 19th century frames, a composition most likely done by a European residing in Cairo at the time. The salvaging of older Mamluk wood and ivory panels and their re purposing within later architectural structures was a common trend in Egypt during the time of the French influence, starting under Napoleon III yet continuing in increasing numbers towards the end of the 19th century. The French were particularly interested in re purposing architectural elements (panels, doors and plaques) – some taken directly from minbars (Islamic pulpits) and others from architectural decorations in mosques and madrasas – to serve as decorative fittings within their Neo-Mamluk homes built in central Cairo. Doors such as these were common during the second half of the 19th century, especially at a time when much of old historic Cairo was being transformed and modernised. This, coupled with the increasing trend for Islamic designs, motivated European residents in Cairo to utilize such pieces within their newly designed homes.

When entire structures could not be re purposed (such as minbar doors), a selection of diverse panels would have been used, with ‘newer’ plaques made to fill in the missing pieces within the geometric composition. As such, composite panels present a combination of styles, techniques and dates, some of which are today difficult to decipher, as the craftsmanship of late 19th century carvers cleverly (and quite convincingly) imitated their earlier Mamluk masters. Indeed, this particular door panel has both Mamluk and later 19th century additions, even though its wooden frame is indisputably of the 19th century.