Definition
The carving of bone and, historically, ivory into figurines, plaques, combs and inlay elements, also used as a component in khatam.
History
Small carved bone figures and plaques from the early Islamic period survive in museum collections, though dating is often broad. Contemporary work largely uses camel bone.
Dates and attributions here summarise common scholarly positions and are under editorial review; they are not definitive.
Technique
Cleaned and dried bone is sawn, shaped with knives and files and polished; small pieces are cut for inlay work.
Collecting and identification
Material identification (bone versus ivory or synthetics) and legal restrictions on ivory must be considered; cracks and staining are common.
This guidance is educational only and is not an authentication or valuation service.
Reference samples
The reference samples on this page are documented objects in public collections, shown with their holding institution's attribution and licence. They illustrate the craft and are not for sale.
Gallery
Images are representative examples, not evidence for the sample marketplace records. Their sources and permission status are listed in the photography credits.
Marketplace
No objects of this craft are currently listed.
Reference samples in collections
Documented objects from museums, archives and auction records, shown for study. Not for sale; attributions are the holding institution's, not CraftPersia's.
Sources & references
- Book: Wulff, H. E. The Traditional Crafts of Persia. MIT Press, 1966.
- Museum catalogue: Cleveland Museum of Art, Open Access collection records for Iranian objects (accessed 2026-09-24).
Where origins, dates or symbolism are contested, this entry states the competing readings rather than choosing between them. Editorial analysis is not presented as documented fact.