Iranian Artisan Products

This special type of work has become an Iranian handicraft well-known the world over.

The craftsmen of todayhave perfected the art of miniature painting and each piece is signed by the artist.

The camel bone is prepared by boiling many times, then thoroughly drying it so it can be made ready for carving. A drawing is made on the surface, then the design is painted by using very fine brushes.

After painting, the designis sealed with a special varnish.

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Since time immemorial, Persian art has included ceramic making and the use of fish and water as designs. Although history does not indicate the exact origin of this tradition, we know the motifs for fish appears in pre-Iranian history. It is no wonder as water was always a main source of transport, food source and artifice of enjoyment. Numerous fountains and flowing water cascades are seen in Persian art in nearly every century. Today, the river Zayanderud flowing through Isfahan carries little water and fewer fish - but the essence of water was always important to the Persian culture. The fish symbolizes not only water, but life, wealth and fertility. The fish also became part of the Christian iconography, but occurs in all three major religions..

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This enamel-work is among the most creative inventions and the Persians are masters of this art form. In enamel-work, the surface of various metal articles such as gold, silver or copper are painted by means of colorful luster. Afterwards, the art objects are fired in a special furnace to stabilize the color.

Isfahan in particular is the prime center for the production of this brilliant colored work. All our works are signed by well-known Iranian artists.

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Carpentry and woodwork items are made with artistic precision and creativity. Traditional artists employ walnut or pear wood in fabricating decorative articles. Wooden commodities of Iran are produced in the cities of Shiraz, Sanandaj, and Rasht. These artifacts consist of different kinds of bowls, plates, forks, spoons and other decorative items. In the same domain, the act of decorating wood in Iran is quite remarkable. The most exquisite wooden doors of Iran are trimmed with inlay.

Marquetry is the art of decorating the surface of wooden articles with delicate pieces of wood, bone and metal with precise geometrical shapes. Marquetry is among the finest manual artworks of Iran. The materials used in the construction of inlaid articles can be in gold, silver, brass, aluminum, different woods and twisted wire. Various types of inlaid articles and their quality are known by the size and the geometrical designs - the smaller the pieces, the higher the quality. Designing inlaid articles is defined by precision workmanship. In each cubic centimeter of inlaid work, up to approximately 250 pieces of metal, bone, ivory and wood are utilized. The pieces are positioned beside each other and bundled together to produce the pattern. Today Isfahan is a well-known city for fine marquetry items. .


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These small intricate pieces of woven silk tapestry are the perfect idea for your end tables or for any surface that requires some "pizazz"! All the mats are of 100% silk and utilize all natural colors. The mats are woven in the city of Qom.

The patterns are varied - from pictorial to swirling arabesques and foliage designs. There are several designs pictured - but if you are looking for particular colors - please do not hesitate to ask us as we have many in stock.

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After the spread of Islam, the use of pen-case for clerical works became common and was utilized in schools and courts. Today, as in the past, the pen-cases were of two kinds: wooden and metallic.

The wooden box can be plain or worked with a stylized miniature painting or decorated using the marquetry in-lay designs. The metallic pen box is made of heavy metal and can be ornamented with filigree patterns.

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A unique gift idea created by Iranian artisans by employing the technique of miniature painting. The mirror is inset into a wooden frame which has been shaped according to the master's creative energies. After the background painting, the artist carefully adds a stylized miniature scene or vegetal motif. Lacquering protects the mirror and makes the wood shine.

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