Afghanistan Peace Brooch

Description

Silver and lapis

British Museum Alina selection, 2018

Inspired by the different motifs found on Afghan embroidery, the Peace brooch represents the main ethnic groups.

The writing on the coin reads Afghanistan in the centre with the names of the tribes written around the edge.

This piece is part of the “Alina” collection which was created in collaboration with Turquoise Mountain and celebrates the diversity of the Afghan tribes. Afghanistan’s population is made up of several ethnic groups or tribes. Despite these tribes collectively residing in the region for hundreds of years they each have their own distinctive ways of living, defined by unwritten codes. It is this variety across these cultures, and especially in their embroidery, that has inspired this collection.

It was important for Sima that a female voice and viewpoint should be used as her inspiration; partly to tell the story of another side of Afghanistan, but also to celebrate the creativity and skills of these Afghan women. Embroidery is a craft that women have traditionally used to express themselves all across the world.