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.
Care & preservation
Handle with clean gloves; avoid abrasive polishes that soften engraved detail.
General guidance only. For valuable or fragile pieces, consult a qualified conservator before cleaning or treatment.
Used in these crafts
The Iranian tradition of decorating copper, brass and silver vessels with small chisels struck by hammer, working the metal into line, ground and relief.
A Persian inlay art in which fine rods of wood, bone and metal are bundled into star units, sliced into thin sheets and applied to a wooden surface to form dense geometric tessellation.
A decorative technique in which powdered coloured glass is fused by heat onto the surface of gold, silver or copper objects, producing a smooth, glossy coloured surface, historically practised in Isfahan on vessels, jewellery and decorative panels.