Rhapsody: A Symphony of Islamic Geometry in Jewelry

Arash Raad's Award-Winning Necklace Revives Middle-Eastern Cultural Glory

The design of Rhapsody was born from the intricate Islamic geometric patterns that have evolved over centuries in the Middle East and North Africa. The sculptural folds and ruffles of the necklace recall the vicissitudes of history and life of these people, where glory and beauty are woven together with pain and grief. The rigidity and cohesion of the design manifest the strength, richness, and glory of a culture hardened through conflicts and invasions, yet invincible with the power of love and beauty.

Rhapsody is a unique piece of art, hand-crafted with traditional techniques and materials in Mashhad city in Iran, a destination of Muslim pilgrimage and a center of traditional crafts. The necklace is a modern wearable sculpture based on Islamic geometry, designed for anyone eager for an elegant and stylish look. The design process involved searching through a variety of Islamic geometry sources to select patterns that could be developed into a novel design. This was followed by developing iterations through a hybrid hands-on and digital process, narrowing down sketches, producing mock-ups, and refining the product through a round of revisions based on user feedback.

The necklace, measuring 175 mm x 160 mm x 45 mm, is made from Silver 925. It is a testament to Arash Raad's dedication to creating products that fulfill both the dignity of a rich culture and the elegance of today. The designer believes that Rhapsody conveys authenticity and novelty at the same time, combining vernacular knowledge and traditional tools and materials with contemporary aesthetics and theories.

The project started in February 2020 in Mashhad, Iran, and the first sample was produced in December 2020. The design was awarded Silver in A' Jewelry, Eyewear, and Watch Design Award in 2021, a prestigious accolade rewarded to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.

Despite the challenges faced, such as maintaining balance between the past and future and transforming the angular geometry of architectural patterns into a sculptural and wearable form that fits and adorns the human body, Arash Raad successfully created a piece of jewelry that is innovative and fresh to a contemporary eye, while being rooted in history. Rhapsody is a testament to the designer's commitment to reviving the glory of Middle-Eastern cultures and their rich and epic history.