Persian Mermaid Brooch

The delicate, serious, and mysterious ‘Persian Mermaid Brooch’ references the popular, mythical, and literary Persian concept of a fairy. A fairy is an enigmatic creature often associated with demons, possessing immense knowledge and embodying both good and evil. This mermaid brooch is inspired by a painting from Qazwini's ʻAjāʼib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharāʼib al-mawjūdāt, "The marvels of creation and the oddities of existence”, a Persian version housed at Princeton University. While the Princeton manuscript provides a simple description of this fish, other versions attribute mysterious qualities to it. Studio Toghchi, in collaboration with Shiraz-based artist Sareh Ansari, has recreated this enigmatic mermaid as a brooch