Reference
Materials
موادWhat Iranian crafts are made from, how it is prepared, how it behaves over time, and how it is best kept.
Woolپشم
The foundation of Iranian pile weaving. Highland flocks produce long-staple, lanolin-rich fleece that takes natural dye deeply and resists soiling.
- Origin
- Highland and pastoral flocks across Fars, Khorasan, Kurdistan and Azerbaijan.
- Properties
- Elastic and resilient
- High dye affinity
- Naturally soil-resistant
- Variable staple length by region
- Preparation
- Shorn, sorted by staple, washed, carded, then hand- or wheel-spun; often plied before dyeing.
- Preservation
- Keep dry and ventilated, avoid prolonged direct light, and inspect regularly for insect activity.
Silkابریشم
Reeled filament used for fine pile, highlights, termeh wefts and brocade grounds.
- Origin
- Historically Gilan and Mazandaran sericulture; also imported.
- Properties
- Very high tensile strength
- Fine gauge allows dense knotting
- Strong lustre
- Light-sensitive dyes
- Preparation
- Cocoons are reeled, degummed, thrown into thread, then dyed in small lots.
- Preservation
- Highly light-sensitive. Store flat, in the dark, interleaved with unbuffered tissue.
Cottonپنبه
Used for carpet foundations, block-printed cloth and embroidery grounds.
- Origin
- Cultivated across the central plateau and Khorasan.
- Properties
- Dimensionally stable
- Low elasticity
- Takes mordant dyes well
- Inexpensive relative to silk
- Preparation
- Ginned, carded and spun; foundation yarns are usually plied for strength.
- Preservation
- Stable if dry; vulnerable to mould and to acidic storage materials.
Walnut woodچوب گردو
The usual carcase timber for inlaid boxes, frames and furniture.
- Origin
- Zagros and Alborz walnut stands.
- Properties
- Dense and stable
- Warm mid-brown tone
- Holds fine edges
- Works well under hand tools
- Preparation
- Air-dried for long periods, then sawn and thicknessed before veneering or inlay.
- Preservation
- Maintain steady humidity; sudden change lifts inlay and opens joints.
Brassبرنج
A copper-zinc alloy favoured for engraved vessels and trays because it holds a crisp chisel line.
- Origin
- Worked from sheet stock in Isfahan, Tabriz and Zanjan workshops.
- Properties
- Takes fine engraving
- Bright warm tone
- Work-hardens under hammering
- Polishes to high shine
- Preparation
- Sheet is raised or spun to form, annealed, then filled with pitch for engraving support.
- Preservation
- Handle with clean gloves; avoid abrasive polishes that soften engraved detail.
Copperمس
Softer than brass, traditional for tinned cooking vessels and deeply raised forms.
- Origin
- Kerman and Zanjan mining regions.
- Properties
- Very malleable
- Excellent heat conduction
- Develops patina
- Usually tinned for food use
- Preparation
- Raised from sheet with repeated annealing, then planished and tinned.
- Preservation
- Stabilise patina rather than stripping it; avoid damp storage.
Clay & frit bodyخاک رس
Earthenware and quartz-rich frit bodies underlie Persian glazed ware and architectural tile.
- Origin
- Local beds near Kashan, Meybod, Hamadan and Lalejin.
- Properties
- Plastic when wet
- Frit bodies fire whiter
- Supports thin glazes
- Low fired strength
- Preparation
- Weathered, levigated, wedged, then thrown or pressed and biscuit-fired.
- Preservation
- Support weight fully when handling; glaze crazing traps soluble salts.
Natural dyesرنگهای گیاهی
Madder, indigo, weld, walnut husk, pomegranate rind and cochineal give the palette of older Iranian textiles.
- Origin
- Cultivated and gathered across Iran; cochineal and indigo also traded.
- Properties
- Ages gracefully
- Shifts with mordant
- Batch variation (abrash)
- Varying lightfastness
- Preparation
- Fibre is scoured, mordanted — historically with alum — then dyed in successive baths.
- Preservation
- Limit light exposure; fugitive yellows fade first and can misdate a piece.
Camel boneاستخوان
Cut into fine rods to supply the white elements of khatam inlay.
- Origin
- By-product of pastoral herding.
- Properties
- Dense and pale
- Takes a high polish
- Brittle in thin sections
- Yellows slowly with age
- Preparation
- Degreased, bleached, then sawn and filed into triangular rods.
- Preservation
- Avoid solvents and heat, both of which crack thin bone elements.