Gems of Afghanistan

Gems of Afghanistan

This virtual exhibition is a small highlight of the different textiles and Jewelry in IUMAAs Birnbaum Collection that are from Afghanistan. Within this small selection which is from the vast collection of Dee Birnbaum, there are many examples of the colorful clothing worn on both special occasions and everyday life in Afghanistan.

The Jewelry selected highlights the level of skill of the silversmiths in the region. There are a number of items that incorporate other materials. As well as incorporate a plethora of skill sets. Some of the jewelry in the collection includes handcrafted bangles, jeweled necklaces as well as veil ornaments. This collection of over 2000 items is rare as it was not created as an academic pursuit but by personal means

The collection of origin comes from Dee Birnbaum. The Birnbaum Collection is a textile collection which illuminates how material culture collecting can have a lasting effect on the collectors’ life. This collection in general started out as a personal collection of Dee Birnbaum, who is currently an associate professor of business at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, and was amassed from travels and exploration. The collection is now one of the largest collections of its type in both number and geographic scope in the country.

Lauren Ammons

2022