Iran Handicrafts

Iranian Handicrafts

Handicrafts are preserved in the culture of Iran’s nation and is one of the traditions of ancient Persia. Each city of Iran has got it’s own unique handicraft, which all are very popular among tourists and highly regarded outside Iran. Carpets and Rugs are the most famous handicrafts in Iran and most people know Iran from the beautiful Persian rug, but there is a vast majority of unique artworks in Iran which you might have never heard of, So read the rest if you are interested.

Iranian Handicrafts: Engraving (Ghalamzani)

Ghalamzani is one of the most beautiful and valuable handicrafts of Isfahan. Traditional patterns, birds, animals and sometimes a part of a famous artwork or historical places are engraved on materials such as gold and silver.
The master should be skillful and have a good imagination to create a nice artwork with this method.

Drawing Process:

It begins with a solution of resin and chalk then the pattern is applied with a special tool, called Sonbe pen, which is used to perform the elementary sketch. Then the pre applied solution will be washed off and the surface will be rubbed with coal and polished. After polishing, the picture is going to be glittering.

Iranian Handicrafts: Carpet and Rug Weaving

Persian rug also known as Iranian carpet is a heavy textile, is made for a wide variety of utilitarian and symbolic purposes in various types.
Persian rug represent different lines of Iranian tradition and it reflects Iranian history.
The carpets woven in the 16^th century are famous because of their elaborate colors and artistic design. The most famous carpets in the history of Iran are Pazyryk and Baharestan.

Pazyryk Carpet

 The carpet is known as the oldest surviving pile carpet in the world and it was manufactured in Ancient Persia around 400 BC. The carpet, with 360,000 knots per square meter, is the most important find at Pazyryk. It was deeply frozen in a block of ice at the time of recovery and that’s the reason it is so well-preserved. It can be seen at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Bahrestan Carpet

Baharestan or Bahar-e Kasra carpet, also known as Farsh-e Zemestani (Winter Carpet) is one of the most famous carpets of ancient Iran. The carpet was 27 meters long and 27 meters wide, woven with materials such as gold, silver, silk, and rare stones. It was called Baharestan,  because it depicted a splendid garden akin to paradise.
Baharestan covered the floor of the great audience hall of Taq kasra, the carpet was too heavy to carry away when Ctesiphon fell to the Arabs, so they left it behind and when the Arabs got to the palace they cut into small pieces and divided among Arabs.

The carpets woven in Tabriz, Naeen, Kerman, Qom and Mashhad are the most famous carpets in Iran and they are characterized by their specific weaving techniques.