Persian Crafts

Persian craftsmanship is rich in colour, form and ancient traditions. Beyond carpets, Iranian culture offers refined handmade works: wood inlay, blown glass, ceramics, miniature painting on paper and hand-printed textiles. On this page you will find some of the most representative arts.

Khatam - inlay work

Khatam is the creation of geometric patterns made with very fine inlays of wood, bone and metal. These meticulous compositions require mastery and patience: a single box may take months of work.

Blown glass

The tradition of Persian blown glass goes back more than a thousand years. Harmonious shapes and vivid colours capture the light and create unique reflections. Each piece is shaped by hand and carries the mark of its artisan.

Ceramics

Ceramics from Isfahan and other cities are decorated with polychrome glazes and floral motifs. Vases, plates and tiles tell stories of nature and Persian mythology. Glazing techniques create brilliant surfaces meant to endure over time.

Metal engraving

Through the patient work of the engraver, vases, plates, trays and samovars in different metals come to life from a tar-coated mould: bronze, copper and silver. Entirely forged by hand, they are artistic masterpieces for style, creativity and minute decorative detail, and they appear especially distinctive in modern Western interiors.

Miniatures

Persian miniatures are small paintings on paper or parchment that illustrate poetic and epic scenes. Brilliant colours and exquisite detail make each work a small masterpiece, often accompanied by calligraphy.

Bone miniatures

Bone miniatures combine the precision of Persian painting with a rare and precious support. Pencil cases, decorative objects and polished surfaces are embellished with tiny scenes and refined motifs, becoming highly collectible pieces full of charm.

Papier-mache

Decorative objects of many different shapes and uses, such as pen holders, mirrors and jewellery boxes, are made in dark papier-mache and finely painted with miniatures and delicate ornamental motifs.

Printed textiles

Hand-printed textiles known as Ghalamkar are made with carved wooden blocks dipped in colour and pressed onto the fabric. The result is a repeated design that is harmonious and, at the same time, pleasantly irregular.