Persian stone carving: Mashhad soapstone and beyond

Soapstone (sang-e sabuni)

Around Mashhad, carvers shape soft steatite into cooking pots (dizi pots) and bowls. The stone holds heat well and is valued for slow cooking.

Other stones

• Onyx and marble bowls and boxes from Yazd and Isfahan
• Carved gravestones with calligraphy
• Agate and carnelian seal stones

Using soapstone pots

Season a new pot with oil before first use, heat slowly and avoid thermal shock. Small cracks are common; ask whether the pot is lathe-turned or hand-carved.

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.