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CARNELIAN
Carnelian has been used for jewellery for millennia. In Roman times, it was widely used for engraved signet rings and letter seals, as the stone was known to be strong enough to resist hot wax. Adorned by the ancient Egyptians, the prophet Muhammed, and Napoleon Bonaparte alike, Carnelian's fiery warmth has long held associations with royalty and power. Named after the fruit of the Eurasian Cornelian cherry tree, this blood-red stone is also thought to symbolise good health and good luck.
AFGHAN JEWELLERY
In 1978 an Afghan-Soviet team of archaeologists discovered a hoard of over 20,000 ornaments, jewellery, and precious artefacts in northern Afghanistan. Dated back to the first century BCE, the Tillya Tepe hoard is renowned for its staggering beauty and finesse.
Afghanistan’s rich jewellery tradition continues to this day. Since 2016 we have worked with master jewellers and gem cutters based in the old city of Kabul. Stimulated by influences from across the ancient silk road and tribal traditions within Afghanistan, Afghan jewellers benefit from direct access to an array of fine precious and semi-precious gemstones, exceptional natural materials and invaluable inherited knowledge.
