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Persian lacquer painting vs Illumination (Tazhib)

لاکی‌کاری · تذهیب

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. Illumination (Tazhib): The decoration of manuscript pages and album leaves with gold and coloured pigments in geometric and floral designs framing text or painting.

Side by side

Persian lacquer paintingIllumination (Tazhib)
Persian nameلاکی‌کاریتذهیب
CategoryPainting · Decorative lacquerBook arts · Manuscript illumination
Materialspaper, lacquerpaper
Techniqueslacquer-painting—
Regionsisfahan, shirazisfahan, tabriz, mashhad
Periodssafavid, qajar, pahlavi, contemporarytimurid, safavid, qajar, contemporary
Motifsgol-o-morgh, eslimi-arabesqueeslimi-arabesque
Current vitalityAt riskLiving tradition

What they share

  • Materials: paper
  • Regions: isfahan
  • Motifs: eslimi-arabesque
  • Periods: safavid, qajar, contemporary

How to tell them apart

  • Materials such as lacquer point towards Persian lacquer painting.
  • 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.