Craft comparison

Under review

Persian lacquer painting vs Traditional bookbinding (Sahhafi)

لاکی‌کاری · صحافی سنتی

Persian lacquer painting: A decorative technique in which papier-mâché or wooden objects, such as boxes, mirror cases and pen boxes, are painted with fine miniature-style scenes or floral ornament and then sealed under multiple coats of clear lacquer varnish. Traditional bookbinding (Sahhafi): The hand binding of manuscripts and books with leather or lacquer covers, often with a flap (lisan) and stamped, cut or gilded decoration.

Side by side

Persian lacquer paintingTraditional bookbinding (Sahhafi)
Persian nameلاکی‌کاریصحافی سنتی
CategoryPainting · Decorative lacquerBook arts · Bookbinding
Materialspaper, lacquerleather, paper, lacquer
Techniqueslacquer-painting—
Regionsisfahan, shirazisfahan, tabriz, shiraz
Periodssafavid, qajar, pahlavi, contemporarysafavid, qajar, contemporary
Motifsgol-o-morgh, eslimi-arabesque—
Current vitalityAt riskEndangered

What they share

  • Materials: paper, lacquer
  • Regions: isfahan, shiraz
  • Periods: safavid, qajar, contemporary

How to tell them apart

  • Materials such as leather point towards Traditional bookbinding (Sahhafi).
  • Persian lacquer painting typically involves lacquer-painting.
  • The stated place of making is a useful clue, but never proof on its own.

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Disclaimer

This comparison is educational and built from entries still under review. It cannot confirm what a particular object is.