What documented Khatamkari looks like
Reference photographs of documented Khatamkari pieces, credited to their sources. Compare construction, surface and wear with any piece you are offered — a resemblance is not proof of origin.
Khatamkari at a glance
| Persian name | خاتمکاری |
| Category | Woodwork · Inlay |
| Main techniques | wood-inlay |
| Typical materials | walnut-wood, camel-bone, brass |
| Places of making | isfahan, shiraz |
| Current vitality | Endangered |
Understanding Khatamkari
What Khatamkari is and how it is made
Definition
Khatamkari is the assembly of a decorative surface from bundled rods rather than from cut shapes. Rods of contrasting material are filed to a triangular section, bound into a six-pointed star unit, glued into larger blocks, and then sliced across the grain into sheets thin enough to bend around a curved carcase.
Because the pattern is built into the block before slicing, every sheet cut from one block repeats the same figure. Fineness is measured by how many elements fall within a given area: the most demanding work packs several hundred rods into a single star repeat.
History
Inlaid geometric woodwork is documented in Iran from the Safavid period, when Isfahan and Shiraz workshops produced doors, Quran stands, boxes and instrument bodies for court and religious patrons. Earlier related traditions of geometric woodwork existed, but the direct line of descent for the bundled-rod method is not firmly established in the published record.
Production shifted toward smaller export objects in the Qajar period, and again in the twentieth century toward boxes, frames and cases sold to visitors. Several twentieth-century workshops in Isfahan maintained the finer standards; others adopted printed or transferred imitations that reproduce the appearance without the construction.
Materials
The dark elements are usually ebony or stained hardwood, the mid-tones walnut and jujube, and the white elements bone. Thin brass or, in older work, silver wire supplies the metallic lines. The carcase beneath is typically walnut or another stable hardwood.
- Walnut and jujube for warm mid-tones
- Ebony or dyed hardwood for dark lines
- Camel bone for white elements
- Brass wire for metallic accents
- Animal or fish glue in traditional practice
General background on the craft, not a statement about any individual object; dates and attributions summarise common positions in the literature and remain under review. Read the full Khatamkari entry.
Before you buy: what to inspect
- In true inlay the tiny pieces are set into the surface and can be felt as a flat, sealed layer; printed paper imitations lack depth.
- Look at the edges and corners for clean joins.
- Check that the varnish is even, without cloudiness or peeling.
Typical materials: walnut-wood, camel-bone, brass.
Red flags: copies and 'Persian style' imports
- Printed sticker or plastic imitation sold as inlay.
- Resin fillers in place of wood, bone or metal.
- Warping or split panels.
A genuine Khatamkari piece should come with a named place of making in Iran (often isfahan, shiraz) and a clear statement that it is handmade.
Questions to ask the seller
- What materials are used in the inlay?
- Is the wood seasoned?
- Is the lid or hinge original?
What affects the price
| Pattern density |
| Materials (bone, brass, precious woods) |
| Size |
| Workshop |
Care and cleaning
- Dust with a soft, dry cloth.
- Avoid water, direct sunlight and radiators.
- Keep humidity steady to prevent cracking.
Storage
- Store away from damp walls and heat sources.
Shipping
Pad corners well; wooden items can crack if dropped.
Illustrative examples in the archive
- Khatam Inlay Box · Illustrative example · not for sale here
- Vintage box / Persian wooden box / Storage box with inlays / Wooden casket / Persian Khata · Illustrative example · not for sale here
- Vintage Persian Khatam Jewellery/ Trinket box- handpainted with micro-mosaic · Illustrative example · not for sale here
Disclaimer
This guide is educational. It cannot confirm that any particular object is genuine, old or valuable. For important purchases, ask an independent specialist. Read the full Khatamkari entry.