Home Help: 25 January
Buying responsibly – ie, not purchasing things made by workers toiling in appalling conditions for minimal pay – is a consideration these days. In recent years, the idea of keeping local crafts alive in war-torn or very poor areas, has gathered momentum.
But after decades of war in Afghanistan, there is no benevolent ruler to preserve the ancient and incredibly beautiful buildings. However, fortunately, we have Prince Charles and Rory Stewart. The latter, now an MP, trekked across Afghanistan in 2002, shortly after the fall of the Taliban, and his work in the country has gained saviour status. Brad Pitt reputedly wants to make a film of Stewart’s life and his book about the journey, The Places In Between (Picador, £8.99).
In late 2005, Prince Charles contacted Stewart regarding a project to protect Afghanistan’s arts and crafts heritage. ‘I thought I could combine the Prince of Wales’s interest in craft training with my own desire to save a poor community in Kabul,’ says Stewart.
In Afghanistan, Stewart met 76-year-old Abdul-Hadi, one of the greatest carpenters in the country. He was selling fruit in a Kabul market because of a lack of demand for Afghan woodwork and he had no students to whom he could pass on his skills.
Over a period of two years, 100 international volunteers joined the venture. Many came for a few months at a time and helped restore a derelict building and open it for business as The Institute for Traditional Afghan Arts.
In the early days, apprentice carpenters, calligraphers and potters, sat on benches, watching Master Abdul-Hadi. A year later, there was a full timetable for the students, including IT, English, business studies, Islamic art history and design. Its graduates have now gone on to work in buildings around the world, including London’s Connaught Hotel.
Hand-carved wooden bookends and doorstops can be bought through UK-based design business Oliver Laws – www.oliverlaws.com
And for that special gift, Alexandra Llewellyn makes bespoke backgammon boards, such as the exquisite design (top left, centre and right) featuring tulips, Afghanistan’s national flower.
1 Backgammon board, POA, Alexandra Llewellyn Design: 020-7183 1058, www.alexandralldesign.com
2 Book Ends with Peacock Motif, $79, Turquoise Mountain Arts charity: 01764- 650888, www.turquoisemountainarts.org Donations by cheque can be sent to the Turquoise Mountain Trust, Broich House, Crieff, Scotland
3 (Main image) Connaught Hotel, London Room designed by graduates of the Institute For Traditional Afghan Arts: www.turquoisemountainarts.org
Email design enquiries to Hugh St Clair at homehelp@lady.co.uk
But after decades of war in Afghanistan, there is no benevolent ruler to preserve the ancient and incredibly beautiful buildings. However, fortunately, we have Prince Charles and Rory Stewart. The latter, now an MP, trekked across Afghanistan in 2002, shortly after the fall of the Taliban, and his work in the country has gained saviour status. Brad Pitt reputedly wants to make a film of Stewart’s life and his book about the journey, The Places In Between (Picador, £8.99).
In late 2005, Prince Charles contacted Stewart regarding a project to protect Afghanistan’s arts and crafts heritage. ‘I thought I could combine the Prince of Wales’s interest in craft training with my own desire to save a poor community in Kabul,’ says Stewart.
In Afghanistan, Stewart met 76-year-old Abdul-Hadi, one of the greatest carpenters in the country. He was selling fruit in a Kabul market because of a lack of demand for Afghan woodwork and he had no students to whom he could pass on his skills.
Over a period of two years, 100 international volunteers joined the venture. Many came for a few months at a time and helped restore a derelict building and open it for business as The Institute for Traditional Afghan Arts.
In the early days, apprentice carpenters, calligraphers and potters, sat on benches, watching Master Abdul-Hadi. A year later, there was a full timetable for the students, including IT, English, business studies, Islamic art history and design. Its graduates have now gone on to work in buildings around the world, including London’s Connaught Hotel.
Hand-carved wooden bookends and doorstops can be bought through UK-based design business Oliver Laws – www.oliverlaws.com
And for that special gift, Alexandra Llewellyn makes bespoke backgammon boards, such as the exquisite design (top left, centre and right) featuring tulips, Afghanistan’s national flower.
2 Book Ends with Peacock Motif, $79, Turquoise Mountain Arts charity: 01764- 650888, www.turquoisemountainarts.org Donations by cheque can be sent to the Turquoise Mountain Trust, Broich House, Crieff, Scotland
3 (Main image) Connaught Hotel, London Room designed by graduates of the Institute For Traditional Afghan Arts: www.turquoisemountainarts.org
Email design enquiries to Hugh St Clair at homehelp@lady.co.uk