Ghalamzani

If you travel to Iran and visit Isfahan, you will see the glittering art of engraving in the bazaar of Isfahan. It is one of the most beautiful Persian handicrafts.

The glamorous art of engraving consists of creating designs with chisel carvings on a variety of metals. The history of the engraving seems to be not far from the time when people discovered and used metals. Ancient specimens preserved in "Ancient Iran" and other museums around the world date the art of engraving back 3,000 years.

Engraving is the art of engraving excellent designs into various metals such as copper, brass, silver, and gold. Isfahan is the main center of the engraving. These artists made a wide range of gold and silver vessels decorated with animals and hunting scenes. Sassanid luxury art was made of precious and semi-precious stones, silk, and glassware. In Iran and Mesopotamia, they produced silverware in large quantities. These were the famous Sassanid silverware.

Engraving processes and methods

Silver is made with hammers and decorative designs using a variety of techniques. The artist must use chisels and hammers to engrave all the details. And create different scenes with people dancing and musical instruments playing. Through trade by sea and land, communication was established and the production of these silver ships took place and was settled in Central Asia.

The artistic movement of the engraving hand and the coordinated strokes of the hammer and engraving tools eventually lead to the creation of unique works. But the decorations and embellishments are made on materials that have already been shaped by another skilled artist with a hammer and anvil. Metalworkers are those who work with all types of metal sheets, embellishing and preparing them for engraving in the form of bowls, vases, jars, samovars, etc. Due to the hard work and old age of the masters, metal utensils are now prepared by machines.

After the artist finishes the design, the back is covered with a layer of bitumen and baked with other materials, then the main lines of the design are drawn with chisel carvings, and from now on it is even more time-consuming. Months for the artist to bring to life the whole design, which was once only imagination for him.




The complex process of making each piece requires the skill, talent, and great patience of the artists. Numerous tools and materials such as chisels, hand tools, hammers, etc. are used by the artisans to mark and engrave the most accurate and complex designs on a variety of metals. Various landscapes of nature, the shape of animals and people, the role of flowers and plants, hunting grounds, etc. are among the many esthetic images hand-painted and engraved on various types of engraving pieces. The use of heat, wax, paint, sandpaper and polishing agents are other processes used to create these masterpieces. Enchanting handicrafts are made in the form of decorative trays, plates, vases, jugs, etc.

Many silver pieces were also decorated with scenes from the state religion of ancient Iran, namely Zoroastrianism. Many of these scenes described the chapters in detail. This appeared on many cast vessels, showing that they were associated with the ritual meanings of the Zoroastrian religion. In Iran and Mesopotamia, a large amount of silverware was produced in past times. These were the famous Sassanid silverware.

Engraving is a combination of art, technology, and industry. Today, even people who did not know much about silver until recently buy silverware to decorate their homes.

The revival of this art is due to the tireless efforts of late Professor Mohammad Orizi and late Professor Mohammad Taghi Zofan over the last eighty years, which have led to the creation of dozens of outstanding and significant engravings on metal on the one hand and the education of the new generation on the other. Fortunately, young people are more interested in this ancient art. Today, many young people are working with old masters of calligraphy to learn the secrets of this art.

Where can you buy ghalamzani? 

We know Isfahan as a city of handicrafts, it is the center of the engraving. The great historical bazaar of Isfahan is a place where you can find the best engravings in different sizes, shapes, and prices. Shiraz and Tabriz are also important centers of engraving production. And you can also store online in Iran and buy any kind of Persian handicrafts that you like. Nowadays, online shopping has become easier and online shops accept cryptocurrency as a payment method.