DAY 89 - KABUL

89) SATURDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 1977 : 0KMS. - KABUL

Looking for some nice souvenirs offered in the bazarr, more popularly known as “Kuchi Murgha” or “Chicken Street”, for family and friends as well as for myself but could not find anything very outstanding.  I bought  a small round stone box  and square ones for small ornamental pieces or pills. It is stones inlaid as a butterfly into the lid with a fine silver or brass wire lining around the butterfly.  

Photo : 3ebay.com / Google images search

Inside the stone box, lined with a thin sheet of silver, costed  400. – AFG.  It looks pretty good (although not neatly crafted).  I ordered six more round stone boxes at the price 350. – AFG/per box.  and paid the deposit for all 500. – AFG.  I bought a precious blue stone Lapis Lazuli box coted 400. - AFG.

Afghan semi-precious color stone box - Photo : Google images search

The blue stone Lapis Lazuli is usually found in the same source area with gold ore in Afghanistan.  To make a box, the craftman cuts it into small strips and pastes them with the metal (silver) box form on  the inside and around the outer side but the base and the lid are single Lapis Lazuli stones  showing the gold traces in it.   

Lapis Lazuli pills box - Photo : shubinak.com / Google images search

When we look at it under the light, it will be shining, showing its sparkling beauty. I  bought a nice one for my father.