: PersianTHE BRAND ORIGINALITY
In the winter of 2014, in view of the concerns to the mind of Mohammad Reza Mahmoodi over and above in response to the thorough domain of the voice of the thirsty of the “modernised archaic identity”, Torse was introduced to the world of jewelry including mythological narrations.
With the aid of original and identity-oriented discourse, Torse endeavours to illustrate a meaningful abstraction in line with a simple embodiment; moreover, with the assistance of pure thoughts as in handmade jewelry, marks a revolutionary inception in their mysterious world.
The brand seeks to accumulate the most precious experiences in order to present cultivated enthusiasts with luxurious jewelry so as to render the highest honors to purchasers and collectors playing a commendable role in creating recognition among the following generations of the cultural heritage imbued with a modern view. The most important difference is the combination of the ancient art, KHATAM, with the modern jewelry industry, which has led this brand towards being unique.
“Torseh” indicates, in Pahlavi Persian, rainbow. For us, however, it evokes a glorious rainbow, mixed with archaic elements and motifs, providing history and civilisation, in its own way, with a re-emergence; gives each work’s theme an immortal appellation despite being forgotten, so that there shall exist an integrated rebirth. The revival of the silent patterns and motifs throughout hand-woven and engraved inscriptions has created an eye-catching distinction, which, thanks to this freedom, one’s heart leaps with joy. Torse, when deserving the epithets of a bird such as SWAN, is to utter its being noble and enchanting, representing an image of unknown, mysterious loyalty and love.
Designers and masters at Torse, owing to preserving the culture and civilisation of the past, always honor the heritage of their land through research and study, in the hope that they demonstrate the true colour of ancients artistic patterns by transferring the vague, forgotten patterns and motifs before the observer through which they will be enabled to visualise an advanced art of concept in the jewelry world.
Concentrating seriously on details, Torse turns its greatest manifestation into masterpieces and unique pieces of jewelry; from viewers’ viewpoint, the phrase “very good” will be converted into the term “shocking” or “imposing”.
The culmination of this flourishing is the unique combination of a privileged jewel connection with a woman whose body is like a magnificent statue and ambassador who tells eternal stories.
Torse is a brand that, due to the special features that have been mentioned before, creates value for its audience beyond meeting the normal life inquiries and necessities; therefore, possessing each of its works as an intergenerational legacy is an achievement that will be a remembrance.
The essence of the works is basically “KHATAM”, which for its description, flourishing and excellence it could be adequate to reckon it is the art of “giving life” to coloured wood.
Not only the process of creating it is striking beauty, but also creativity in the techniques and methods of construction requires a lot of care, patience, and its quality depending on the small role of the design, color, shape and dimensions, of which there must be master’s skills, accuracy and patience.
This art has a very ancient history along with roots, and is a beautiful and valuable instance for the taste and talent of Iranian people.
KHATAM is the insertion of very small pieces of wood, bone, metal wires in the form of regular geometric shapes resulting in various shapes such as small flowers, SHAMSA and bright stars.
The garlands used in KHATAM are made on the basis of the number three or a multiple of three. Furthermore, the use of the quadruple elements in Khatam (according to the beliefs of ancient culture, the four elements namely fire, earth, air and water that create the universe) is the same familiar word of unifying human being to the main body and Minoan world.
THE FOUNDER OF TORSE
Mohammadreza Mahmoudi, born in 1981 in Tehran, Iran, is an expert gemmologist, a traditional and modern jewelry designer, and the founder of Torse. At the age of 12 he undertook a training in Moarraq (traditional Persian art of inlay) under the supervision of Master Salaheddin Allamehzadeh. Simultaneously, he started acquiring skills in gold, jewelry and gemstone setting. He learned his art empirically.
From 2009 after setting up his own workshop and producing made-to-order designs, Mohammadreza Mahmoudi started teaching jewelry design courses. At that stage of his journey, he opted for a novel approach. He had the idea of merging and intertwining the art of Khatam (geometrical Persian art of inlay) with his mastery of Moarraq, gold and jewelry making.
To this novel combination, Mohammadreza Mahmoudi added a modernised but traditional aesthetic, drawing inspiration from great Iranian arts such as architecture, carpet-design, miniature painting and wood-art. These provided him with a treasure trove of traditional designs and motifs such as Toranj (a semi-rosette), Arabesque or Islimi, Shamsa
(a sunburst motif), and paisley.
Deeply inspired by the mythological culture of Persia, Mohammadreza Mahmoudi uses his knowledge and dynamic thinking to forge a contemporary version of timeless stories. In all of his designs and works, as an indefatigable artist, he strives to crystallize a new contemporary reading out of archetypes and myths. Through his whole work, the Founder of Torse uses his profound gaze and fluid thinking to lead the viewer’s mind towards fascinating stories and images of mythological worlds.
Torse’s Founder Achievements at a Glance
- First place in Persian National Moarraq Competition (1997)
- Creator of more than 300 unique jewelry designs (since 2004)
- Instructor of specialised courses on jewellery design, jewelry creation and gem-setting (since 2010)
- MBA in Luxury Branding Management (2017)
- Top Creator of Magnificent Iranian Artwork Medal from the Korean Foundation (2017)
- Winner of Homi Milan Fashion and Jewelry Exhibition Appreciation Award (2017)
- Iran Brand Academy Top Entrepreneur (2017)
- Moscow Fashion & Jewelry Exhibition of Excellence participant (2017)
- Honorary lecturer on designing traditional jewelry at the University of Tehran (2019)
- A founding member of the UNESCO Crafts Club (since 2020)
- A founding member of the Iranian Cultural and Creative Industries Park Jewelry Design Award (since 2021)