Magic carpet
BAHRAINI jewellery and gem consultant Shahrazad Murad has unveiled her new creation, inspired by her passion for Oriental rugs and the classical tradition of carpet-weaving.
'Tabriz' that comprises a necklace, bracelet and ring, crafted using 18-carat gold, corals, turquoise and pearls, is being exhibited at Bahrain Jewellery Centre in Al Aali Mall.
The wearable art brings alive the colours, patterns and artistry of traditional Tabriz rugs, a city in Iran; the coral and turquoise fringes, for instance, resemble the rugs' tassels.
Having several professional certifications from DANAT (Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones), De Beers, and L'ecole Van Cleef & Arpels, among others, the creative entrepreneur has also studied Persian history and its traditional rug-weaving. She has plans to make more designs for other cities, including Isfahan, Nain and Qum.
'Every area boasts its unique aesthetic, and specific characteristics distinguishing its rugs from those crafted elsewhere. Because these rugs often depict stories and cultural motifs, I decided to incorporate these into my own work,' the gemmologist, who is equally inspired by Qashqai and Gabbeh carpets, both crafted by different nomadic tribes, told GulfWeekly.
Shahrazad grew up rummaging through her mother's jewellery box. She was also inspired by her grandmother Peri Kazerooni, an artist, who painted ornaments on canvas for her goldsmith to create for her and her six daughters.
'I launched Shahrazad Designs at the end of 2019 as an online shop. I used traditional motifs and cultural symbols like Bahraini pearls and the Middle Eastern evil eye. I am obsessed with showcasing our illustrious heritage, while adding a modern twist to my creations, which are popular these days,' she said.
The designer believes that one of her most special pieces is from her Qalby ('my heart') collection and is a pendant adorned with Bahraini mother of pearl, showcasing a constellation pattern, with stars made up of broken diamonds.
'I don't want anything to go to waste, so I make it a point to reuse broken diamonds, many of which are of great quality. Creating jewellery made from recycled gold, as well as recut or repurposed gems is almost guaranteed to have a lower environmental impact than brand-new jewellery, and that's a win in my book,' she added.
Shahrazad also works with broken pearls, mother of pearl and diamond powder to infuse different elements into her sustainable jewellery collections Qalby and Burji ('my zodiac'), as well as emeralds, rubies and sapphires, including those with 'inclusions'.
A gemstone inclusion is any material - such as minerals, gas, or liquid - that is naturally trapped within a gem as it forms, and serves as a gemstone's 'fingerprint', offering insight into its origin, authenticity, and even rarity. Inclusions can add character, making each gemstone one of a kind.
Keen on taking her sustainable collections to the international market, Shahrazad is working closely with DANAT to launch, what she claims is, Bahrain's first sustainability certification card that can be issued with the purchase of her eco-friendly designs.
She is also working on creating dress-up pieces for Apple gold band watch straps that can be personalised, and precious accessories for women's bags that she feels will become all the rage.
Shahrazad Design is available at Bahrain Jewellery Centre, the Bahrain National Museum gift shop and online at shahrazaddesign.com.
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