Tashbaan
Prop Box
As a homage to my partner’s bachelor thesis, a hand-carved chest was created that looks like an artifact from the fantasy city of Tashbaan. Inspired by Babylonian patterns, equipped with a self-designed city seal and a complete wax seal set, the project combines digital fabrication, traditional craftsmanship, and artistic research. An object that demonstrates how fantasy and reality can merge.
Tashbaan, as she designed it, combines influences of ancient civilizations — particularly Babylonian architecture and art — with a complex, fractal-inspired city layout. The city rises like a mountain from a lake and carries an architectural layering that mediates between reality and fantasy. It was precisely this spirit that I wanted to capture in my work and translate into a physical, tangible object.
The result is a handcrafted chest that gives the impression of originating directly from the city of Tashbaan. On the outside are delicate carvings inspired by Babylonian patterns, which, through intentional patination, acquire an aged, almost archaeological appearance. On the top, the custom-designed city seal stands out, its geometric lines reminiscent of the fractal structures of the city’s layout.
Inside, a complete wax seal set is concealed: carefully shaped padding holds the individual pieces securely, with a custom-designed wax stamp at its center. This stamp was modeled using Fusion 360 and then produced on a CNC machine. The seal design — also created by me — combines the city’s logo with mathematical ornamentation. The ensemble is complemented by an artificial flower, which I crafted in elaborate handwork from copper wire and UV resin.
The chest is therefore not only a gift but also proof of how research, craftsmanship, and digital fabrication can interlock. It demonstrates how historical inspiration, fictional worlds, and material design can be woven together into a believable prop.
