Geography

Regions

مناطق

Craft is local. Each region page sets out its geography, history, craft specialities, markets and the artisans documented there.

Isfahan province

Isfahanاصفهان

The densest concentration of court-descended crafts in Iran: inlay, engraving, fine carpet weaving, miniature painting and tile.

KhatamkariQalam-zaniPersian miniatureHaft-rang tileworkPersian carpetNasta'liq calligraphyJajimQalamkar block printingSermeh-duziNamad feltGiveh footwearMinakari enamelFiligree (Malileh)Moarraq tile mosaicGereh-chini latticeWood carving (Monabbat)Paper marbling (Abr-o-bad)Persian lacquer paintingVelvet weaving (Makhmal-bafi)Brocade weaving (Zari-bafi)Needlework embroidery (Suzan-duzi)Inlaid metalworkSteel openwork (Fulad-kari)Jewellery and gem settingStucco carving (Gach-bori)Stone carving (Hajjari)Bone and ivory carvingInstrument making (Saz-sazi)Illumination (Tazhib)Leatherwork (Charm-duzi)Traditional bookbinding (Sahhafi)Nain carpet

Fars province

Shirazشیراز

Inlay and bookbinding alongside the tribal weaving traditions of the surrounding Qashqai and Khamseh territories.

KhatamkariGabbehNasta'liq calligraphyPersian carpetPersian miniatureKilim (Gelim)Gereh-chini latticeWood carving (Monabbat)Persian lacquer paintingGlassmakingInstrument making (Saz-sazi)Traditional bookbinding (Sahhafi)

East Azerbaijan province

Tabrizتبریز

The most technically ambitious carpet-weaving city in Iran, with a long tradition of workshop-drawn designs.

Tabriz carpetPersian carpetQalam-zaniPersian miniatureNasta'liq calligraphyJajimMoarraq tile mosaicPaper marbling (Abr-o-bad)Inlaid metalworkGlassmakingStone carving (Hajjari)Instrument making (Saz-sazi)Illumination (Tazhib)Leatherwork (Charm-duzi)Traditional bookbinding (Sahhafi)Heriz carpet

Kerman province

Kermanکرمان

Termeh weaving, pateh embroidery and a distinctive soft-palette carpet tradition.

TermehPersian carpetKilim (Gelim)Pateh embroidery (Kerman)Sermeh-duziNamad feltGiveh footwearWood carving (Monabbat)Needlework embroidery (Suzan-duzi)Blue-and-white ceramics

Yazd province

Yazdیزد

Silk and velvet weaving, zilu flatweave and traditional dyeing houses.

TermehPersian carpetHaft-rang tileworkKilim (Gelim)Namad feltZilu (Meybod)Moarraq tile mosaicGereh-chini latticeStucco carving (Gach-bori)

Isfahan province

Kashanکاشان

Historic ceramic and tile production, rosewater distillation and fine silk carpets.

Haft-rang tileworkPersian carpetMoarraq tile mosaicMina'i wareVelvet weaving (Makhmal-bafi)Brocade weaving (Zari-bafi)GlassmakingLustreware (Zarrin-fam)Stucco carving (Gach-bori)Kashan carpet

Qom province

Qomقم

A relatively young but technically exacting silk carpet tradition.

Persian carpet

Razavi Khorasan province

Mashhadمشهد

A major Khorasan craft and trading centre with a long carpet-weaving tradition and active bazaars.

Persian carpetTurquoise inlay (Firuzeh-kubi)Jewellery and gem settingBlue-and-white ceramicsStone carving (Hajjari)Illumination (Tazhib)Leatherwork (Charm-duzi)

Sistan & Baluchestan province

Sistan & Baluchestanسیستان و بلوچستان

Baluch needlework, mat weaving and pile rugs in dark, saturated palettes — several of these traditions are now at risk.

Persian carpetKilim (Gelim)Filigree (Malileh)Needlework embroidery (Suzan-duzi)

Hamadan province

Hamadan and Lalejinهمدان و لالجین

Lalejin near Hamadan is a working centre for wheel-thrown, moulded, glazed and unglazed earthenware.

Lalejin potterySlip-painted ceramics

Documented traditions per region

Isfahan32

Shiraz12

Tabriz16

Kerman10

Yazd9

Kashan10

Qom1

Mashhad7

Sistan & Baluchestan4

Hamadan and Lalejin2

Counts of craft entries linked to each region in this archive so far — a measure of documentation, not of how many crafts exist there.