We are going to hit two birds with one stone in this special tour of Isfahan handicrafts. So, if you wish to take the handicrafts home and if you want to stop running from one place to the other, roll up your sleeves and join our tour.

We will pick you up at your accommodation to visit the production process of the handicrafts in Isfahan. We will take you to one of the four main neighborhood of Isfahan known as Dardasht.

After giving an introduction about the history of this district, we enter a historical house located near the Bokht Agha’s tomb which is a Qajarid house holding a collection of handicraft workshops.

The house is a square-shaped courtyard encircled by the rooms and other spaces.  The most spectacular part of the house is the southern part comprising a higher porch (ayvan) and a central hall overlooking the courtyard. The hall is graced with five-door stained windows and frescos adorning the wall and ceiling. A pool room (howz-khaneh), with an octagonal pool in the middle, lies on the space between the western and southern part of the house. It connects the southern hall to the western spaces of the house through a wooden door. 

Unlike the typical handicraft shops you may visit in Isfahan, this house includes a number of handicraft workshops in which you can observe the process of making while you buy the crafts.  

First, we go to see the glassworks whose master won the national award for his abstract work of art. He will show us the way he has given a Persian identity to his glasswork.

In the next step, you will be familiar with the rug workshop (Kilim) in which the master will show you how to weave a rug and you can get involved in the weaving process.

If you are a woman, you will love the next workshop and if you are a man, you can get a nice gift for the woman you love. You ask why? I will tell you now.

This room embraces a delicate work of art of filigree trophies, bowls and buttons. The master is making filigree jewelries all by his skillful hands and adorn them by precious metals such as gold and silver. This ancient filigree jewelry was discovered and unearthed in the ancient Mesopotamian lands about 5000 years ago and found its way to the other parts of the world especially throughout the Roman Empire.

Are you interested in music? How about musical instruments? In the next workshop, you will see how the master of woodwork breathes a new life into the pieces of wood and makes the famous Iranian musical instruments such as Setar and Tar.

This is not the end of the story, lots of other workshops such as the Persian marquetry known as Khatam Kari is still waiting for you. Khatam consists of sticks of wood, brass, camel bones and twisted wires. Ivory, gold and silver are also used for exclusive products. The beams are cut in triangular shape and put together to form a cylinder. Then, these cylinders are cut shorter, compressed, plated and glued to decorate the object.

The next room introduces the master of locksmithing, Hassan Kiani, who has made more than 200 different vintage locks. The animal motifs inspired the artists in making this delicate artwork. These unique locks have found their ways to the Louvre Museum. Don’t miss to ask them to show you the tiny locks. 

We continue our handicraft workshop tour by going next door to see the beautiful art on the cotton textiles. Mr. Ebadi is an artist in Kalamkari or block printing. The Persian word Kalamkari (also Qalam Kari) consists of kalam or qalam (pen) and kari (craftsmanship) meaning drawing with a pen. This freehand drawing used to be practiced since Sassanid era which is replaced by block printing nowadays. Miniature, metalwork, lacquer work and enamel are also practiced in this house.

Finally, after spending enough time on shopping and gaining knowledge about handicrafts, it’s cool now to take a good refreshing Iranian dessert, Fereni. It is known as a type of pudding and a vegan dessert which is served with Shire (the date palm syrup).