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
Taking its name from a princess in the epic Shahnameh poem, the Tahima Collection is a celebration of Afghan heritage and culture. The collection’s romantic florals and bold gemstones are inspired by the ornamentation found in the Noh Gunbad mosque in Afghanistan.
Literally meaning the ‘Nine Domes [of the Universe]’, Noh Gunbad mosque was built over 1,000 years ago, making it one of the earliest known Islamic
structures in Afghanistan.
Photo by Josephine Powell / Courtesy of Special Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University
