Saidullah passed away in December 2016. RIP.
Herat is located in western Afghanistan, close to the border of Iran, on the strategic trade routes of Central Asia and the Middle east. Many invaders since the 18th century, the Soviet occupation in the 1980’s and several more recent civil war conflicts left a trail of extensive destruction in the once proud city. I visited the city from my posting in Islamabad, Pakistan where I was ambassador. By sheer coincidence I came across a dark basement workshop on the edge of the city, where two glassblowers were busy blowing blue glassware. Later I learned how precious this glass was and how its and unique production technique went back to medieval times…
“From a long line of Glassmakers, stretching at least a thousand years, Master Glassmaker Nasrullah, 55, along with his brother, Saidullah, 60, his nephew Ghulam Sakhi, 35, his two sons, Zabiullah, 25, and Khairullah, 23 are the only five people in the whole of Afghanistan who know how to make the Herat glass, learning this ancient craft from their fathers, who learned it from their fathers for centuries. Haji Sultan Ahmad is the face of Herat Glass due to his shop’s location across from the Friday [Masjid-i-Jami] Mosque. Ghulam Sakhi works for Haji Sultan producing the items in his shop. These gentlemen supply glass to everyone else in Afghanistan.” (from a website selling Afghan art)
Foto: Aref Karimi, 2011
Foto: Aref Karimi, 2011
A heap of rejects were lying in the upstairs window. (own foto)
Some pieces from my small, modest collection.
See also my post: https://wilfriedgeens.com/2014/01/06/afghanistan-3/
