STORY
The Stone
High in the valley of Sar-e Sang in North Eastern Afghanistan lie mountains streaked with seams of deep blue rock. This iconic stone – Lapis Lazuli - has obsessed humans for millennia. Once so exclusive it was reserved for the funeral masks of Pharaohs, and for the brush tips of the Renaissance’s most renowned artists, the price of Lapis Lazuli equalled the price of gold right up until the industrial age. Afghanistan is home to the world’s largest deposit of Lapis Lazuli.
Artisans
This piece was produced by master artisans in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban took over in August 2021, we have removed all identifying references of our partners for security reasons.
Some of our partners were able to leave Afghanistan. For those who remain, their craft is critical to sustain their livelihoods at a time when the country is in financial collapse and in the grip of a humanitarian disaster.
Every order we are able to make with our partners is more important now than ever before.
Design
The Babur Collection pays homage to the iconic architecture of Bagh-e-Babur, the final resting place of the first Mughal emperor Babur. Artisan Arif Khan makes use of the traditional cutout technique and vibrant lapis lazuli to create bold geometric pieces.
