Haft Sin ceramics by Hozan Zangana echo the outlines of Persian calligraphy
Eindhoven designer Hozan Zangana has created a set of ceramics for the traditional Persian new year celebration based on the forms of the calligraphic Nastaliq script.
![Haft Sin ceramics by Hozan Zangana](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Haft-Sin-ceramics_Nowruz-Rituals-Design_Hozan-Zangana_b_dezeen_sq.jpg)
One of the rituals performed for Nowruz – literally translated as new year – is the setting of a Sofraye Haft Sin, which is a table or dining cloth laid with seven or more items starting with the letter S.
When his wife struggled to find a Haft Sin set in the Netherlands, Zangana decided to create his own updated version based on the forms of hand-drawn lettering used for Perso-Arabic writing.
![Haft Sin ceramics by Hozan Zangana](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Haft-Sin-ceramics_Nowruz-Rituals-Design_Hozan-Zangana_b_dezeen_936_0.jpg)
"As a designer I am always looking for elements that represent the blend between my history in Iraq and my life in the Netherlands," said Zangana.
"I come from a culture with a long history that is full of traditions and customs. Research has led me to go back in time, let's say six or seven thousand years ago."
![Haft Sin ceramics by Hozan Zangana](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Haft-Sin-ceramics_Nowruz-Rituals-Design_Hozan-Zangana_dezeen_936_1.jpg)
"But I have also looked at what we have today," he added. "What came out of the research was calligraphy and the nastaliq script, which I have used for the lines and shapes."
Zangana created his Haft Sin set of nine pieces in brown, dark grey and light grey versions. A short rounded candlestick holder echoes the curves of letters, while more shallow bowls can be used to hold fruit or other small pieces of food.
![Haft Sin ceramics by Hozan Zangana](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Haft-Sin-ceramics_Nowruz-Rituals-Design_Hozan-Zangana_dezeen_936_0.jpg)
Wider flatter vessels serve as plates, and have lines incised around the rim – mimicking single pen strokes. One of the pieces features a distinctive raised section in the middle, while taller vessels can be used to hold flowers or plants.
![Haft Sin ceramics by Hozan Zangana](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Haft-Sin-ceramics_Nowruz-Rituals-Design_Hozan-Zangana_dezeen_936_2.jpg)
Other designers have used rituals as a starting point for work. Dana Douiev designed ceramic utensils for the preparation of traditional Ethiopian bread in a contemporary city kitchen, and Luca Nichetto and Lera Moiseeva created tableware that would encourage ritual sharing of food.
![Haft Sin ceramics by Hozan Zangana](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/11/Haft-Sin-ceramics_Nowruz-Rituals-Design_Hozan-Zangana_b_dezeen_936_2.jpg)
Make That studio similarly turned to tradition, when it designing a minimal version of an historic Sicilian jug.