Proprietor, Abdul Nustraty sits proudly upon the abundant merchandise that he imports from Afghanistan and other exotic parts of the world. Above: the showcase of silver rings from around the world is highlighted in his store in New York's Greenwich Village.
		Precious Keepsakes Woven Through Time Carpets, Masks, Jewelry, Pillows, Clothing, Instruments and Merchandise Galore. By Phalana Tiller Have yo been looking for an unusual piece of Nepalese sliver and amber jewelry? Or perhaps an antique walrus tusk carving? Or that one-of-a-kind embroidered silk tapestry to decorate your home? If anything of the sort has been on your must-have list, then get out your pen and paper and jot down this name: Nusraty Afghan Imports. Oh, by the way, if you're not in New York, you'll have to get yourself here. This shop will satisfy the palates of curious, open-minded shoppers, as well as serious and well-versed collectors. Nusraty Afghan Imports offers a plethora of goods from the far reaches of the world. African masks, Native American jewelry, Persian rugs, Australian crystal, Egyptian statuettes, share the spotlight with Uzbek and Thai pieces in a display of global harmony which even the U.N. would be hard pressed to emulate. Located on the same West Village corner for 21 years. Nusraty Afghan Imports, has made a name for itself with a clientele whose needs are as varied as the items in the shop. Owner, Abdul Nusraty explains that he has "all kinds of customers from all over the world, and I have something for each one of them, from 3 dollars to 25,000 dollars!" The shop's walls are literally invisible due to the abundance of goods in the store. it is impossible to see everything in Nusraty's inventory in just one visit. Not only is there an overflowing wealth of merchandise to see on any given day, the shop also receives weekly shipments of new items which are constantly added to the already exciting collection. _________________________________________________ Nusraty tells a great story of being scolded by his mother for "wasting" pocket money she had given him on "dirty, smelly old things," and being laughed at by classmates who did not identify with his passion for antiques. _________________________________________________ Leaving Afghanistan in a time of great political jeopardy, Abdul Nusraty, with his wife and two young children came almost directly to New York City. He describes the decision to live in New York as based primarily on the lack of night life in the other American cities he visited before coming to New York. The vision of Nusraty describing his decision making process is absolutely adorable. He is a mild mannered, middle-aged Mr. Rogers-esque gentleman whose aura of peace seems incongruous with the desire for a round-the-clock city life. He says, however that, "in the other cities everything dies when it's dark. I'm sorry, I'm not ready to sleep at 7 o'clock, so I needed a city like New York where there is always life. Twenty-four hours a day!" Opening the business in New York was a natural extension of the childhood hobby that eventually led to his first business while in college in Kabul. Nusraty tells a great story of being scolded by his mother for "wasting" pocket money she had given him on "dirty, smelly old things," and being laughed at by classmates who did not identify with his passion for antiques. He remembers telling his classmates, "maybe in twenty years you'll be able to understand what I'm doing." In less than that time, Nusraty was hiring his college classmates to work for him in his first shop in Kabul. He managed to build a reputation and a clientele which extended from Afghanistan to western Europe and had fleets of collectors in the countryside collecting pieces for him. Today, Nusraty is able to run his business in New York without having to do much traveling. He relies on a number of agents around the world who are familiar with his taste and who supply him with the kinds of precious and unusual pieces that he is now renowned for. A few items of interest found at Nusraty Afghan Imports include: • Jewelry and keepsake wood boxes with intricate inlay of mother of pearl in exquisite geometric details, from North Africa and the Middle East. • Urns filled to the grim with beads for those of you who are interested in designing your own bead jewelry. There are metal, wood, ceramic and antique glass beads ranging from seed-sized to golf ball-sized. • A rare, three thousand-year-old piece of silk with Islamic scripture richly embroidered in gold thread. This piece has had many potential buyers, but Nusraty explains that he cares about the piece too much and so far has not found the "right" buyer. I want to find a buyer who really appreciates and understands the importance of this piece, "he says. • Malachite and lapis lazuli raw and polished stones, loose or already formed into necklaces and other jewelry. • A wide selection of colorful hand embroidered shirts, dresses and hats from Nepal and Tibet with intricately stitched designs o mirrors and beads. And believe it, the list could go on and on! The only way to really gain an appreciation for the depth and breadth of this collection is to drop by sometime. And again, and again, and again! Nusraty Afghan Imports is located at: 215 West 10th St. (corner of Bleecker St., between Hudson St. and 7th Ave.)) New York, NY 10014 Tel: 212-691-1012 This website: Copyright © 2000 Studio Q Int'l Inc / Urban Mozaik Magazine. All rights reserved. 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