Geography

Regions

مناطق

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

Isfahanاصفهان

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

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

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

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

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

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

A relatively young but technically exacting silk carpet tradition.

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