CraftPersia.comPersian Craft Archive
Search

Craft comparison

Under review

Minakari enamel vs Filigree (Malileh)

میناکاری · ملیله‌کاری

Minakari enamel: A decorative technique in which powdered coloured glass is fused by heat onto the surface of gold, silver or copper objects, producing a smooth, glossy coloured surface, historically practised in Isfahan on vessels, jewellery and decorative panels. Filigree (Malileh): A metalworking technique in which fine drawn wires of silver or gold, often twisted or beaded, are soldered into openwork lattices and coiled floral forms to build jewellery, vessels and decorative panels.

Side by side

Minakari enamelFiligree (Malileh)
Persian nameمیناکاریملیله‌کاری
CategoryMetalwork · EnamelMetalwork · Wirework
Materialscopper, brasssilver, copper
Techniquesmetal-enamellingwire-filigree
Regionsisfahanisfahan, sistan-baluchestan
Periodssafavid, qajar, pahlavi, contemporaryqajar, pahlavi, contemporary
Motifsgol-o-morgh, eslimi-arabesqueeslimi-arabesque
Current vitalityLiving traditionAt risk

What they share

  • Materials: copper
  • Regions: isfahan
  • Motifs: eslimi-arabesque
  • Periods: qajar, pahlavi, contemporary

How to tell them apart

  • Materials such as brass point towards Minakari enamel.
  • Materials such as silver point towards Filigree (Malileh).
  • Minakari enamel typically involves metal-enamelling.
  • Filigree (Malileh) typically involves wire-filigree.
  • The stated place of making is a useful clue, but never proof on its own.

Read more

Disclaimer

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