Traditional bookbinding (Sahhafi)

Definition

The hand binding of manuscripts and books with leather or lacquer covers, often with a flap (lisan) and stamped, cut or gilded decoration.

History

Persian bookbinding reached a high level in the Timurid and Safavid periods, with stamped, filigree-cut and gilded leather covers. Lacquer bindings became popular in the Qajar period.

Dates and attributions here summarise common positions in the literature and are under editorial review; they are not definitive.

Technique

Gatherings are sewn, spine edges are headbanded, and boards of layered paper are covered in leather. Decoration may be pressed with metal stamps, worked in cut-leather filigree over coloured paper, or painted and lacquered.

Collecting and identification

Check that the binding belongs to the book (later rebinding is common), and look at wear to spine and flap. Old manuscripts may need export permits and specialist advice.

This guidance is educational only and is not an authentication or valuation service.

Photographs

No photograph is shown yet: we have not found a clean, openly licensed image without watermarks. We would rather show none than a questionable one.

گالری

تصاویر نمونه‌هایی معرف هستند، نه سندی برای رکوردهای نمونهٔ بازارچه. منبع و وضعیت مجوز آن‌ها در بخش اعتبارهای عکاسی آمده است.

بازارچه

در حال حاضر هیچ شیئی از این صنعت فهرست نشده است.

دانش مرتبط

منابع و مآخذ

• Book: Wulff, H. E. The Traditional Crafts of Persia. MIT Press, 1966.
• Institution: Encyclopaedia Iranica, relevant entries (online edition, accessed 2026-09-24).

در جایی که خاستگاه، تاریخ یا نمادشناسی محل مناقشه است، این مدخل روایت‌های رقیب را بیان می‌کند نه اینکه میان آن‌ها یکی را برگزیند. تحلیل سردبیری به‌عنوان واقعیتِ مستند ارائه نمی‌شود.