.jpg)
TEHRAN -- A collection of hand-made sets of necklaces, inspired by tales from classical Persian literature, is on display at Tehran’s Golestan Gallery.
“I study ancient Persian tales such as Haft Peykar and Mantiq at-Tayr a lot and my works are mostly inspired by these stories, besides my personal thoughts and experience,” designer Reyhaneh Raei told Honaronline on Sunday.
Haft Peykar (literally, The Seven Beauties) is a romantic Persian epic poem by Nezami Ganjavi (1141-1209), and Mantiq at-Tayr (The Conference of the Birds) was written by poet Farid ud-Din Attar (c. 1145-1221).
Raei has started her career in jewelry design after she began to study a course on handcrafts. ”I mostly use silver in my works, and also add pieces of gold or brass. Semiprecious stones such as agate, azure, and turquoise also add more beauty to the collections.”
Persian motifs used in different eras such as the Achaemenid or the Islamic eras also act as a source of designs for the artist. “In addition, uncut pebbles give me new ides of designs and help me make new set.”
“The entire process is carried out by hand and usually,I just make one piece for each design. However, if there are more customers, then I make a few more,” she explained.
On offering her works for sale, she said, “I never intended to offer my works in shops. They have all gone on show in galleries.”
“Jewelry can command a good price on one hand and can attract more customers on the other, if it is more artistic and innovative,” she added.
The exhibit, which opened on Friday, will be running until September 3 in the gallery located at 42 Kamasaii St. in the Darrus neighborhood.
RM/YAW
END