Persian steelwork (fulad-kari): openwork plaques and standards

What it is

Craftsmen saw and file sheet or forged steel into open calligraphy and arabesques, then chisel and sometimes inlay the surface. Pierced plaques were mounted on doors, tomb screens and processional standards.

Highlights

• Safavid pierced plaques with Shi'i prayers in thuluth script
• Alam standards carried in Muharram processions
• Qajar helmets, shields and decorative armour (often revival pieces)
• Contemporary Isfahan panels with poetry

Old or new?

Many 'antique' pieces on the market are 19th–20th-century revival work. Wear patterns, tool marks and old rust in recesses help, but expert examination is the reliable route.

Care

Keep dry. Remove fingerprints, which corrode steel, with a soft cloth. Avoid rust removers on old pieces; they erase patina and fine chisel work.

A note on this guide

This is a general introduction written by the CraftPersia editorial team and has not yet been reviewed by a specialist. Workshop practice varies between towns and families; treat dates and figures as approximate and confirm details with makers, museums or published scholarship before relying on them.