Herat, Afghanistan
MEET Herat Glassblowers
The Last Keepers of an Ancient Craft
“This craft was passed down to us from our grandfathers. It is not only our work, it is our family history.”
In the ancient city of Herat, glassblowing has existed for more than two millennia, shaped by generations of artisans along historic trade routes connecting East and West. Today, brothers Ghulam Sekhi and Ustad Nasrullah, alongside Nasrullah’s son Khairullah, are the last remaining traditional glassblowers practicing this craft in Afghanistan. Their workshop now carries the responsibility of preserving an art form that once defined the region’s cultural identity.
A Tradition at the Edge of Disappearance
“We feel a responsibility to keep this tradition alive and pass it to the next generation.”
For centuries, glassmaking flourished in Herat, but decades of unrest and instability caused workshops to close and knowledge to fade. What survives today exists through this single family, where techniques continue to be taught from father to son beginning in childhood. Each piece represents not only skilled craftsmanship but the continuation of a cultural lineage that might otherwise be lost.
Fire as Memory
“We enjoy the fire, the process, and seeing the final piece come to life.”
Every vessel begins with discarded glass collected throughout the city and melted inside a traditional wood-fired furnace. The molten glass is shaped entirely by hand using techniques refined over generations, while natural mineral powders create subtle colour variations. Made slowly and intentionally, each object keeps alive one of Afghanistan’s oldest continuous craft traditions, sustained through dedication, knowledge, and devotion to the flame.
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