Wild Bitter Cherry Seeds (Mahlo in Farsi; Mahleb in Arabic)

In a place called Zagros, in the southwest of Iran, the local tribespeople known as the Qashqai, collect and color wild cherry seeds. These seeds, known in Farsi as mahlo, are then painted in a variety of different shades and colors using pigments only found in nature. These painted mahlo seeds are then used to make jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets.

The artisans of this unique jewelry are the Qashqai women. The art of making this jewelry is passed from one generation to the next as mothers teach their daughters this ancient art of jewelry making.

In the past it was customary for Qashqai women to wear mahlo necklaces every day. Today, however, it only worn by women on their wedding day as a decorative part of their bridal dress. The jewelry has no class divisions, both the rich and poor wear this necklace on this important day.

The Qashqai people prefer these traditional necklaces over gold because the believe that gold only glitters while Mahlo’s strong sweet scent has many health benefits. They believe that the Mahlo’s fragrance will help a person relax, breah easier and remove their headaches.