Shiraz handicrafts; The world city of handicrafts
Shiraz is known as the world city of handicrafts thanks to various arts such as Khatam, Muraq, calligraphy, embossing, carpets and rugs, which are an excellent choice for souvenirs.
Shiraz is the cradle of culture and art, which, thanks to its human capital of artists and artisans, has been able to have an important place in the field of handicrafts in the country. Therefore, it is not surprising that Shiraz has earned the title of the world city of handicrafts. This clearly shows that handicrafts and traditional arts are an ancient and enduring heritage that are considered the true ambassadors of this region.
Despite the fact that most people are familiar with the historical works of Shiraz, the half-hidden and other treasures of the city, which are traditional crafts and arts, should be given more attention. Among the handicrafts of Shiraz, we can mention inlaying, pottery, glass making, pen making, carpet weaving, mosaic, inlay, miniature, felting, hand weaving with artistic value such as carpet weaving, etc. Continue with this article to get more information about Shiraz handicrafts.
Khatam Kari
Shiraz inlay has long had a special place in the handicrafts of the country and its unique features have made it shine next to Isfahan and other parts of the country. In the past, this art was created on works such as the minbar of the ancient Jame Mosque in Shiraz, which is more than 1000 years old, and the doors of walnut wood with bone veneer by master Habibullah. The city of Shiraz has been known for the art of inlay work since the Safavid era, and therefore it is considered the most important center of inlay work in Iran. Khatam Shiraz has a special place in this industry and art due to its good quality, unique designs and high-quality raw materials.
The distinctive features of Shiraz inlay work include the use of a thin and soft wooden sheet behind the inlay for lining, the use of high-quality Siresham glue in all stages, the smooth and polished surface of the work and the absence of empty space between the inlays, the uniformity of the color and materials used, durability And he pointed out the stability of the color and shape of the inlay over time, intangible restorations and plastering on the surface of the inlay products, the smoothness of the design and pattern on the surface of the work.
Shiraz inlay is done on copper and high quality wood and with materials such as bone, brass, etc., and the artists of this field show off their art by making vases, desk and office sets, clocks, tissue boxes, etc. Completely new and unique designs have also distinguished the inlay work of this land, and in it there are designs of taji, taqi tanraj, abri lozi, haft shamseh, moj, joi, abri hexagonal, chain, etc.
Marquetry
Muraq art is considered as one of the old crafts in Iran, as well as Shiraz, which, according to documents, originated in India and was developed by Iranian artists and craftsmen. This art was originally a combination of wood and metal; But instead of one type of wood, the Iranian artists used different types of wood with different colors. In fact, maraq has a meaning with wood cuts in different forms, and since 1334, a greater variety of colors was used in maraq and a new style was created using chemicals, which was no longer limited to a few specific colors.
silver work
Shiraz silverwork has been popular in this country since the past and includes patterns such as narcissus, lily, five feathers, amber and rose, which you will not find in any corner of Iran. Other designs such as Naqsh Forohar, legends of the Shahnameh, Achaemenid kings, Lili and Majnoon, etc. are also visible among the works of art. This art is used in the preparation of tea sets, vases, candlesticks, ornaments and decorative accessories. Silversmithing is a branch of metalworking art that is done with silver metal and shaping it. Shiraz silverwork has a grade above 90, and therefore, it has a higher price than similar works of art in other provinces.
work joke
Javak is one of the arts related to wood, which is very similar to Khatamkari. These handicrafts are made by using two to three colors of wood and putting together small pieces with triangular sections, which leads to the formation of rectangles and rhombuses. Since any design can be created with geometric motifs, the variety of designs of this art is very large and it is used in decorating doors, furniture, inlaid frames, inlays and inlays. In order to prepare a work, the artist must have high precision and elegance in order to place motifs together and create complex geometric designs. Materials such as glue, thread, covering protective materials and various types of wood including orange wood, jujube, walnut, betel and pine are used in the art of joke work.
One of the differences between Jok and Khatam is that it is not only used for facing, and sometimes it is made as a substitute or even as an independent object. Also, the material used for jokes is only wood; However, in Khatam, in addition to wood, other materials such as metal and bone are used. In addition, in jokkari, the triangles and parts of the sheets are cut larger, and as a result, the jok sheets are wider than the inlay.
Jokkari is very similar to Khatamkari
Woodcarving
Manbat is one of the famous handicrafts in the markets of Shiraz, which is prepared in different parts of Fars province; Especially in the city of Abadeh, which is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In fact, Shiraz and Abadeh have played an important role in this field of art in the country by having great teachers who are engaged in the education and training of artists and enthusiasts and who are engaged in the profession of inlaying. The art of carving includes volume carving on wood, which reached its peak in the Safavid period and led to the creation of many masterpieces on mosque doors, pulpits, tables, frames, knife handles, etc. The oldest carving of a lion
It belongs to the fund of the blessed tomb of Seyyed Mir Muhammad (AS) from the 7th century AH.
Carving with wood is done using simple materials such as a few pens and a metal chisel, and it can be seen from Kufi lines and Slimi motifs to Khatai motifs, flowers and birds. Currently, there are several inlay workshops in Shiraz city, among the inlay works, chess board inlay is more interesting and since materials such as elephant ivory and camel bone should be used for the rectangles of the board, it is possible to make it. take more than one to two years.
Etching
Pensmithing is another fascinating art that is done using a pen and hammer and is included in the list of metalworking arts. For calligraphy, the artist must engrave various patterns on metals such as copper, silver, gold, and brass. The city of Shiraz is famous for its calligraphy works, and beautiful designs from Persepolis to flowers and birds and images from the Shahnameh are clearly visible in many of them.
Pen painting on metal has different styles that are done in Shiraz in the style left by Scythians, Achaemenians and Sassanians, and as a result, it has a special beauty. Painters create beautiful patterns with special hammers and pens suitable for each pattern. One of the characteristics of Shiraz calligraphy is the work on various metals such as gold, silver, copper, brass and other metals; Although the work on silver metal has brought a world fame to Shirazi artists.
Polychrome tiles
Haft Rang tile is one of the most important handicrafts of Shiraz, which belongs to the architecture of the Islamic era. To prepare this tile, white glazed tiles are put together and painted with different colors. After designing and painting, it is glazed and placed in the furnace to be ready for installation.
Black, white, azure, turquoise, red, yellow and fawn colors are often used in this type of tiles, which are generally used for historical and blessed places. The most important feature of Shiraz seven-color tile is the quality and special combinations of its glaze; In addition, the use of the famous pattern of "flowers and chickens" has also distinguished it from other seven-color tiles.
Examples of this art style can be seen in the Nasir al-Molk Mosque, which has given it a double charm. Also, when visiting Vakil Mosque, Narenjestan Mansion and Afif Abad Garden in Shiraz, seven-color tiles stand out.
The use of flower and bird motifs has distinguished Shiraz seven-color tiles from other seven-color tiles
