History of Handicrafts in Iran

The art of Handicraft in Iran, along with China and India, is among the main hubs of world handicrafts, which has a long history behind it. There is no doubt that the talent and innovation of Iranians, in addition to their enthusiasm for art and crafts, has led to the flourishment and handicrafts in this country. Iranian people believe that a craftsmanship is not just a physical activity, but craft artists are like poets or authors who reflect their emotions and contemplations on their work.

In order to study the history of handicrafts in Iran, one must consider the entire history of this country and have a look on archaeological excavations done on this land. It is obvious that the history of crafts is inseparable from the history of civilization and the lifestyle of people. Many researchers believe that the origin of agriculture, metalwork, pottery and religious and philosophical worldviews, mathematics, astronomy, numbers, etc. has been the middle east and especially the Iranian Plateau.

The oldest milestone of human life in Iran dates back to Mesolithic Era (10,000 to 12,000 years ago), the evidence of which is the artefacts found by Charlton S. Coon in “hoto” or “kamarband” cave in today Behshahr City, Mazandaran Province. This shows that civilization in Iran has started around 6000 years BC by cultivating barley and wheat, harvested by a scythe-like tool made by flint stone with dented edge. At the same time, livestock came to be used by human and in addition to their meat and milk, their wool was also woven to make fabrics and ropes. In addition, pottery and stone tools were also used for hunting.

According to Roman Ghirshman, during Middle Stone Age, some people living in Bakhtiari Mountains had learned the methods of pottery and bake them on the same fire they used for cooking their food.

During Metal Age, when the fabrication of bronze and copper tools was popular, stone tools were still used. Using painted pottery and weaving delicate fabrics, along with golden items was the fashion of the time.

Bronze Age brought a significant change in civilization of West Asia and the Iranian crafts increased the quality of life for the people living in this region. Decorative beads, stone tools and pottery flourished during this era, too.

Around 1200 BC, bronze was replaced by iron to make weapons and tools (and some decorative items) and high brick mansions were built throughout the country (like Astar-abad). Archeological excavations in such regions have shown that Iranian craft arts have been prevalent during this age.

The oldest collection of crafts in Iran was found in Shusha, containing items from Cooper Era, including axes, needles, copper mirrors and some fabrics. However, it seems that the greatest craft of Iranians during this era had been pottery. They had made clay utensils like bowls, pots, vases and glasses using a rotatory device and had covered them with a red glaze. In addition, a necklace (made of scallop and stones) and some rings were found during these excavations.

Despite the fact that during this era most of tools were made of stones, people of Mesopotamia made axes, shovel, and other tools or weapons out of copper. Bones were also used along with copper and on most of the tools, they carved beautiful patterns, so that clay products and metal products were so similar in appearance. The clay items found in west pf Persepolis are painted and decorated delicately. They are as thin as nowadays pottery items, indicating the elevation of this art in Acheamenid Persia. Also, the red and yellow pottery items, along with carved meatal blades, found in Gian Tepe date back to 1100 to 1300 BC. The excavations in Sialk Tepe led to the exploration of artefacts dating back to 2700 to 2800 BC, including clay items made by hand or rotatory device.

The excavations done by Eric Schmidt near Damqan City in Iran to found Hecatompylos, led to the exploration of a collection of important craft items dating back to 2000 to 3000 BC. These are big vases made in different geometric shapes, with a light brown or cream glaze, mostly made on rotatory devices, showing that glazing pottery in Iran dates back to 5000 years ago. These explorations also indicate that Iranians of that era had been familiar with copper and had been able to make tools like ouches, blades, bracelets, etc. Some golden and silver artefacts were also found that had been used as decorative items (jewelry, statutes, bead roll).

Excavations done in 1947 in Ziwiye (Kordestan) provided us with a treasure of golden and bronze items (as well as items made of ivory), dating back to 7 century BC (Medes Era). In addition, during the excavations in Hassanloo Tepe (Urmia), a golden cup was found with mythical stories on it, dating back to 8 to 14 century BC. There is no doubt that Marlik Cup and other metal items found in Cheragh-ali Tepe (Rasht) can be an indicative of the skills of Iranian metal-workers during the Medes Era or ever before that. From the document found in these excavations it can be concluded that the art of pottery and fabric weaving have been the “industrial art” of the Medes Era.

Carved copper tools of Lorestan (weapons, agriculture tools, decorative items, ritual items, harness, statues, ouches, etc.) are among the traditional arts and important Iranian handicrafts during the first millennia BC.