Engraving (Persian: Ghalamzani) is one of the most beautiful and valuable handicrafts of Iran, which is very popular in Isfahan. The most popular patterns in this artwork are: Traditional patterns, birds, animals and sometimes a part of a famous artwork or historical places. The artist will engrave patterns on materials such as gold and silver.
The master should be skillful and have a good imagination to create a nice artwork with this method.

Engraving Art in Isfahan:

The art of Isfahan engraving is one of the handicrafts of Iran, especially the city of Isfahan, which is more than thousands of years old. The art of engraving has been passed down from generation to generation; and is now produced in it’s most beautiful and modern form in Isfahan.

If you pay close attention to this art of Isfahan, you will notice that each of them are produced on the surface of the dishes is a symbol of the period in which they were made. And today we can see artists using religious symbols widely. Isfahan engraving utensils, like all other types of this art, have a special place among domestic and foreign customers.

Perhaps the best reason for the emergence of the art of engraving in Isfahan is that this profession due to the patterns and motifs created on metals has a high durability; and can easily convey the important events and happenings of any period for later periods.

What is the drawing process of engraving art?

It begins with a solution of resin and chalk; then, the artist will apply the pattern with a special tool, called Sonbe pen. Artists use this pen to perform the elementary sketch. Then they’ll wash off the pre applied solution and rub the surface with coal; and then, the polish it. After polishing, the picture is going to be glittering.

Styles:

There are three main styles in Iranian engraving art: 1. Shiraz, 2.Tabriz and 3.Isfahan.

• Tabriz style: In Tabriz style, the artist uses wrist movement and pressure to move the pen and do engraving. Unlike Isfahan style, that artists uses hammer blows to do engraving. For this reason, Tabriz work is smooth and shallow, but the Isfahan work is deeper.

• Shiraz style: In this style, we can see engraving in two ways: Fine pen on Copper and Brass were common in the Safavid and Zandi periods and before that. In shiraz style we can also see carving, which was popular during Qajar era and also, during the Achaemenid dynasty. Carving is mostly done on silver.
  This is how they do the work: After designing on the work and cutting it in half, artist will start embossing and flooring. In this process, the artist will use Achaemenid and Sassanid motifs, and flower and bird style. In Iran, this style is famous as Shiraz style and is exclusive to Shiraz city.

• Isfahan style: Engraving in Isfahan is also has two separate styles.
  They are: small engraving and outstanding engraving, which artists in Isfahan have been performing in recent years. outstanding engraving is deeper than small engraving and creates a three-dimensional state. This is how engraving is used in the construction of the shrine of Shiite Imams.

Do you like engraving art and would you buy one piece as a souvenir from Iran? Let us know by commenting YES or NO! If you like to read more about souvenirs that you can buy from Isfahan, click on the picture below.

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