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Under review

Qalam-zani vs Steel openwork (Fulad-kari)

قلم‌زنی · فولادکاری

Qalam-zani: The Iranian tradition of decorating copper, brass and silver vessels with small chisels struck by hammer, working the metal into line, ground and relief. Steel openwork (Fulad-kari): The chiselling and piercing of steel into plaques, standards (alam), locks and fittings, often with inscriptions or arabesque openwork.

Side by side

Qalam-zaniSteel openwork (Fulad-kari)
Persian nameقلم‌زنیفولادکاری
CategoryMetalwork · EngravingMetalwork · Pierced and chiselled steel
Materialsbrass, copper—
Techniqueschisel-engraving—
Regionsisfahan, tabrizisfahan
Periodsseljuk, safavid, qajar, contemporarysafavid, qajar
Motifseslimi-arabesque, gol-o-morgheslimi-arabesque
Current vitalityAt riskEndangered

What they share

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

How to tell them apart

  • Materials such as brass, copper point towards Qalam-zani.
  • Qalam-zani typically involves chisel-engraving.
  • 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.