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CraftPersia.com

History

Timeline

گاه‌شمار

A chronology of Iranian craft production. Dates for dynastic periods follow conventional scholarly ranges; attributions of individual objects to a period are frequently uncertain and are labelled as such in entries.

  1. Fragment of a Wall Decoration from the Palace of Xerxes: "Guardsman" in Procession · 486–465 BCE · Iran, Achaemenid (550–330 BCE), Persepolis
    Fragment of a Wall Decoration from the Palace of Xerxes: "Guardsman" in Procession · 486–465 BCE · Iran, Achaemenid (550–330 BCE), Persepolis

    Achaemenid

    هخامنشیc. 550–330 BCE

    Imperial workshops draw craftspeople from across the empire, producing goldwork, stone relief and glazed brick of exceptional finish.

    Developments

    Imperial goldsmithingGlazed brick reliefStone carvingCylinder seals

    Centres

    PersepolisSusaPasargadae
  2. Bowl · 300–500 CE · Iran, Sasanian Empire (224–651 CE)
    Bowl · 300–500 CE · Iran, Sasanian Empire (224–651 CE)

    Sasanian

    ساسانی224–651 CE

    Silver vessels, silk weaving and stucco ornament establish a visual vocabulary — roundels, confronted animals, winged motifs — carried far beyond Iran.

    Developments

    Silver gilt vesselsFigured silk weavingStucco ornamentRock relief

    Centres

    CtesiphonBishapurFars
  3. Harpy · 1000s-1100s · Iran, Seljuk Period, 11th-12th Century
    Harpy · 1000s-1100s · Iran, Seljuk Period, 11th-12th Century

    Seljuk

    سلجوقی1037–1194

    Inlaid metalwork and lustre ceramics flourish; brickwork and tile begin their long partnership with Persian architecture.

    Developments

    Inlaid bronzeLustrewareBrick ornamentEarly tile mosaic

    Centres

    KashanRayyNishapur

    Crafts documented in this period

    Qalam-zaniMina'i wareInlaid metalworkJewellery and gem settingGlassmakingLustreware (Zarrin-fam)Stucco carving (Gach-bori)Stone carving (Hajjari)Bone and ivory carvingSlip-painted ceramics
  4. Bahram Gur Arrives at the House of a Merchant, text page (recto), from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025), known as the Great Mongol Shahnama · 1330–35 · Iran, Tabriz, Ilkhanid period (1256-1353)
    Bahram Gur Arrives at the House of a Merchant, text page (recto), from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025), known as the Great Mongol Shahnama · 1330–35 · Iran, Tabriz, Ilkhanid period (1256-1353)

    Ilkhanid

    ایلخانی1256–1353

    Contact across Asia introduces new pigments and painting conventions; Lajvardina ware and large-scale tile schemes appear.

    Developments

    Lajvardina ceramicsManuscript illustrationMonumental tilework

    Centres

    TabrizSultaniyyaKashan

    Crafts documented in this period

    Tabriz carpetPersian miniatureMoarraq tile mosaicInlaid metalworkLustreware (Zarrin-fam)Stucco carving (Gach-bori)
  5. Royal Reception in a Landscape, right folio from a double-page frontispiece of a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025) · 1444 · Iran, Shiraz, Timurid period (1370-1501)
    Royal Reception in a Landscape, right folio from a double-page frontispiece of a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025) · 1444 · Iran, Shiraz, Timurid period (1370-1501)

    Timurid

    تیموری1370–1507

    Court ateliers in Herat refine manuscript painting, illumination and bookbinding into a coherent, highly disciplined school.

    Developments

    Herat school paintingTazhib illuminationBookbindingTile mosaic

    Centres

    HeratSamarkandShiraz

    Crafts documented in this period

    Persian miniatureNasta'liq calligraphyMoarraq tile mosaicInlaid metalworkBlue-and-white ceramicsIllumination (Tazhib)
  6. Wine bearers in landscape, from a robe · 1525–50 · Iran, Safavid period (1501–1722)
    Wine bearers in landscape, from a robe · 1525–50 · Iran, Safavid period (1501–1722)

    Safavid

    صفوی1501–1736

    The high point of organised Persian craft: royal carpet workshops, haft-rang tile, inlay, silk and velvet production on a commercial scale.

    Developments

    Royal carpet workshopsHaft-rang tileKhatam inlaySilk velvet

    Centres

    IsfahanKashanTabrizYazd

    Crafts documented in this period

    KhatamkariPersian carpetTabriz carpetTermehQalam-zaniPersian miniatureNasta'liq calligraphyHaft-rang tileworkQalamkar block printingNamad feltZilu (Meybod)Minakari enamelMoarraq 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 settingGlassmakingLustreware (Zarrin-fam)Blue-and-white ceramicsStucco carving (Gach-bori)Stone carving (Hajjari)Bone and ivory carvingIllumination (Tazhib)Leatherwork (Charm-duzi)Traditional bookbinding (Sahhafi)Kashan carpet
  7. Qajar Dado Tile · 19th century · Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze · Iran
    Qajar Dado Tile · 19th century · Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze · Iran

    Qajar

    قاجار1789–1925

    Workshops adapt to export markets and to photography; enamel, lacquer and large commercial carpet production expand.

    Developments

    Enamel on goldLacquer paintingExport carpet weavingPhotography

    Centres

    TehranIsfahanTabrizShiraz

    Crafts documented in this period

    KhatamkariPersian carpetTabriz carpetTermehQalam-zaniPersian miniatureNasta'liq calligraphyHaft-rang tileworkGabbehKilim (Gelim)JajimQalamkar block printingPateh embroidery (Kerman)Sermeh-duziNamad feltGiveh footwearZilu (Meybod)Minakari enamelFiligree (Malileh)Moarraq tile mosaicLalejin potteryGereh-chini latticeWood carving (Monabbat)Paper marbling (Abr-o-bad)Persian lacquer paintingTurquoise inlay (Firuzeh-kubi)Velvet weaving (Makhmal-bafi)Brocade weaving (Zari-bafi)Rasht embroidery (Rasht-duzi)Needlework embroidery (Suzan-duzi)Steel openwork (Fulad-kari)Jewellery and gem settingGlassmakingBlue-and-white ceramicsStucco carving (Gach-bori)Stone carving (Hajjari)Bone and ivory carvingInstrument making (Saz-sazi)Illumination (Tazhib)Mat and basket weaving (Hasir-bafi)Leatherwork (Charm-duzi)Traditional bookbinding (Sahhafi)Puppetry (Kheimeh-shab-bazi)Kashan carpetHeriz carpetBakhtiari carpet
  8. Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, north facade and sculpture garden · Building opened 1977 (late Pahlavi period); photographed 2018 · Concrete museum building by Kamran Diba, with garden sculpture · Iran — The museum was founded under Pahlavi patronage and opened in 1977; the photograph itself is modern and shows the building, not a craft object.
    Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, north facade and sculpture garden · Building opened 1977 (late Pahlavi period); photographed 2018 · Concrete museum building by Kamran Diba, with garden sculpture · Iran — The museum was founded under Pahlavi patronage and opened in 1977; the photograph itself is modern and shows the building, not a craft object.

    Pahlavi

    پهلوی1925–1979

    State institutions begin documenting and classifying handicrafts; some village traditions decline as industry expands.

    Developments

    Craft schoolsState documentationDesign standardisation

    Centres

    TehranIsfahanTabriz

    Crafts documented in this period

    Persian carpetGabbehKilim (Gelim)JajimQalamkar block printingPateh embroidery (Kerman)Sermeh-duziNamad feltGiveh footwearZilu (Meybod)Minakari enamelFiligree (Malileh)Lalejin potteryGereh-chini latticeWood carving (Monabbat)Persian lacquer paintingTurquoise inlay (Firuzeh-kubi)Rasht embroidery (Rasht-duzi)Instrument making (Saz-sazi)
  9. Hosseini handicrafts workshop, Isfahan · Photographed 2021 · Working tile studio (haft-rang, underglaze, mina and mosaic tile, per the file description) · Iran — Shows a present-day Isfahan workshop courtyard and its tile panels; it does not show who made the panels or when.
    Hosseini handicrafts workshop, Isfahan · Photographed 2021 · Working tile studio (haft-rang, underglaze, mina and mosaic tile, per the file description) · Iran — Shows a present-day Isfahan workshop courtyard and its tile panels; it does not show who made the panels or when.

    Contemporary

    معاصر1979–present

    Master artisans work alongside designers and conservators; several techniques survive with only a handful of documented practitioners.

    Developments

    Studio craftRevival projectsExport cooperativesDigital documentation

    Centres

    IsfahanShirazTabrizYazdKerman

    Crafts documented in this period

    KhatamkariPersian carpetTabriz carpetTermehQalam-zaniPersian miniatureNasta'liq calligraphyHaft-rang tileworkGabbehKilim (Gelim)JajimQalamkar block printingPateh embroidery (Kerman)Sermeh-duziNamad feltGiveh footwearZilu (Meybod)Minakari enamelFiligree (Malileh)Moarraq tile mosaicLalejin potteryGereh-chini latticeWood carving (Monabbat)Paper marbling (Abr-o-bad)Persian lacquer paintingTurquoise inlay (Firuzeh-kubi)Brocade weaving (Zari-bafi)Rasht embroidery (Rasht-duzi)Needlework embroidery (Suzan-duzi)Jewellery and gem settingGlassmakingStucco carving (Gach-bori)Stone carving (Hajjari)Bone and ivory carvingInstrument making (Saz-sazi)Illumination (Tazhib)Slip-painted ceramicsMat and basket weaving (Hasir-bafi)Leatherwork (Charm-duzi)Traditional bookbinding (Sahhafi)Puppetry (Kheimeh-shab-bazi)Kashan carpetNain carpetHeriz carpetBakhtiari carpet