Handicraft Archive

Turquoise Inlay

Turquoise inlay (Firuzehkubi) involves placing layers of turquoise chips on the surface of objects and jewelry. While arranging turquoise chips and colorful mosaics has a long history in Iran and worldwide, the turquoise inlay, as practic...

Enamel Art

Enamel art (Mina-kari) is painting on metal surfaces covered with white enamel made of kaolin. Objects that undergo enamel work are typically made of copper, but brass may also be used. For jewelry and decorative items, though, gold and s...

Marquetry

The history of Marquetry (Khatam-sazi), another famous handicraft of Isfahan, dates back to the pre-Islamic era. Its flourishing, however, is attributed to the Seljuk period, a revival period for handicrafts, during which Marquetry also r...

Carpet Weaving

"Iranian carpet" is another creative masterpiece reflecting the artists' observations of the surrounding environment and their imagination. Carpets have always been considered essential in Iran; weaving them has been both an artistic and financial...

Block Printing

The production of Kalamkari cloth is traced far back in the history, when during Mongol rule, and with the import of Chinese fabrics to Iran, the country's artists began some competition with their Chinese counterparts and started painting with pe...

Miniature Painting

The relief carvings at the Apadana Palace of Darius the Great are among the oldest remnants of magnificent Iranian miniature paintings (Negargari). The art, however, continued during the Parthian period in the form of gypsum decorations a...

Engraving

Engraving (Qalamzani) is the art of carving patterns on metal. The history of this art dates back to Scythians or Sakas, who lived about 5 to 7 thousand years ago in the Caucasus region (southern Russia) and are considered as Aryan descen...