Khatamkari
Termeh
March 21, 2017
Carpet
March 21, 2017Khatamkari
Khatamkari is a traditional Persian art of marquetry where the surfaces of wooden or metallic items are intricately decorated using pieces of wood, bone, and metal cut into various shapes and designs. Common materials include gold, silver, brass, aluminum, and twisted wire, adding to the luxurious feel of the artwork.
The quality and value of Khatamkari pieces are often determined by the size and complexity of their geometric designs. Smaller, more intricate pieces typically indicate a higher level of craftsmanship and, therefore, greater value.
The craft involves creating intricate inlaid patterns, often star-shaped, using thin sticks of wood (such as ebony, teak, Ziziphus, orange, and rose), brass for golden accents, and camel bones for white elements. For more exclusive pieces, materials like ivory, gold, or silver may be used. These sticks are meticulously assembled into triangular beams, which are then arranged and glued in precise order to form geometric motifs, such as a six-pointed star enclosed within a hexagon.
Various materials are used to produce Khatam products
- Wood types such as ebony, betel, cones, jujube, orange, maple, kikam, tabriz and shamshad
- Types of bone and ivory, such as elephant ivory, camel bone, horse bone, and bone
- Types of metal wires such as brass, silver, and sometimes gold wire
- Shell
- Flint
- Lacquer
Design and Usage
Marquetry design in Khatamkari is known for its intricate and elaborate patterns. In just one cubic centimeter, up to 250 tiny pieces of metal, bone, ivory, and wood can be meticulously arranged side by side. This art form has deep roots in Iran, with a particularly significant role during the Safavid era. During this time, artists applied marquetry to a variety of objects, including doors, windows, mirror frames, Qur’an boxes, penholders, lanterns, and tombs, elevating these items to works of art.
The doors of many holy places are adorned with inlaid motifs, which can still be seen in cities like Mashhad, Qom, Shiraz, and Rey. The art of marquetry thrived in southern Iranian cities during the Safavid period, particularly in Isfahan, Shiraz, and Kerman.
One of the most distinguished pieces of this art, an inlaid desk, was recently awarded first prize and a gold medal at an art exposition in Brussels. This masterpiece is now preserved in the National Museum of Washington. Additionally, royal buildings such as Sa’dabad and the Marble Palace in Tehran feature rooms and doors decorated with intricate inlay work, highlighting the grandeur of this craft.
During the Safavid era, Khatamkari was so esteemed at court that princes were taught this technique alongside other arts such as music and painting. Although the art form saw a decline in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was revitalized under the reign of Reza Shah with the establishment of art schools in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz.
Incorporating techniques from China and refining them with Persian expertise, Khatamkari has endured for more than 700 years and remains a practiced and revered art form in Shiraz and Isfahan today.
