Buying guide · 6 min

Choosing a Persian handicraft as a gift

Editorial team · updated 2026-09-29

Small and light

Khatam boxes, termeh pouches, small minakari plates and marbled paper travel well and suit most budgets.

For the home

Kilims, gabbeh, termeh tablecloths and qalamkar prints bring colour to a room.

Think about care

Some objects need care: enamel chips, silk fades, natural-dye textiles need gentle cleaning. Include a short care note with the gift.

Check origin

If the gift is meant to support Iranian makers, look for a clear 'made in Iran' claim, not just 'Persian style'.

Related photographs

Related photographs: Wikimedia Commons photograph
Fabienkhan (Wikimedia Commons) · Public domain (per Wikimedia Commons) · Image source ↗
Related photographs: Craftestan photograph
Craftestan (photographer not stated) · Permission status not reviewed · Image source ↗
Related photographs: Wikimedia Commons photograph
Mbmasoudi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image source ↗
Related photographs: Wikimedia Commons photograph
Jacopo188 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Image source ↗

Representative photographs, not of any specific catalogued object. Sources on the credits page.