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Persian miniature vs Persian lacquer painting

نگارگری ایرانی · لاکی‌کاری

Persian miniature: The Iranian tradition of small-scale painting made for manuscripts and albums, built from fine line, flat luminous colour and layered spatial convention rather than single-point perspective. 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.

Side by side

Persian miniaturePersian lacquer painting
Persian nameنگارگری ایرانیلاکی‌کاری
CategoryPainting · Manuscript paintingPainting · Decorative lacquer
Materialsnatural-dyespaper, lacquer
Techniquestazhib-illuminationlacquer-painting
Regionsisfahan, shiraz, tabrizisfahan, shiraz
Periodsilkhanid, timurid, safavid, qajar, contemporarysafavid, qajar, pahlavi, contemporary
Motifsgol-o-morgh, eslimi-arabesquegol-o-morgh, eslimi-arabesque
Current vitalityLiving traditionAt risk

What they share

  • Regions: isfahan, shiraz
  • Motifs: gol-o-morgh, eslimi-arabesque
  • Periods: safavid, qajar, contemporary

How to tell them apart

  • Materials such as natural-dyes point towards Persian miniature.
  • Materials such as paper, lacquer point towards Persian lacquer painting.
  • Persian miniature typically involves tazhib-illumination.
  • 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.