Wikipedia offers this laconic description:  “Istālif (Persian: استالف‎‎) is a village 29 kilometres northwest of Kabul, at an elevation of 1,693 metres.  The village was destroyed during the long-lasting wars around Kabul. There are a few repaired or newly constructed buildings. The village needs a lot of work to be done to return its previous state. Istalif is famous for its handmade glazed potteries. Its name might derive from Greek staphile (“bunch of grapes”) or Parachi estuf (“cow-parsnip”). Istalif was always renowned as one of the most beautiful places in Afghanistan – the Emperor Babur fell in love with it in the 16th century and used to hold parties in his rose garden and summer house there.”  But here’s the Afghanistan postcard, unused, serrated edges, heavily aged but clean.  Grade: 2