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-zani	Steel openwork (Fulad-kari)
Persian name	قلم‌زنی	فولادکاری
Category	Metalwork · Engraving	Metalwork · Pierced and chiselled steel
Materials	brass, copper	—
Techniques	chisel-engraving	—
Regions	isfahan, tabriz	isfahan
Periods	seljuk, safavid, qajar, contemporary	safavid, qajar
Motifs	eslimi-arabesque, gol-o-morgh	eslimi-arabesque
Current vitality	At risk	Endangered

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.

Disclaimer

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

Side by side

What they share

How to tell them apart

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Disclaimer