Khatam
Encyclopedia
Khatam is a Persian
version of marquetry
, art forms made by decorating the surface of wooden articles with delicate pieces of wood
, bone
and metal
precisely-cut geometrical shapes. Khatam is also the capital of Khatam County
in Iran
. Khatam kari is the art of crafting a Khatam. Common materials used in the construction of inlaid articles are gold
, silver
, brass
, aluminum and twisted wire. Artworks with smaller inlaid pieces are generally more highly valued.
took on a special significance as artists created their precious artworks. These works include; doors and windows, mirror frames, Quran boxes, inlaid boxes, pen and penholders, lanterns and inlaid ornamented shrines.
The steps of making Khatam: First different kind of wood in different colors are provided and then with the relevant tools they are cut each horing 30 cm length and 1-5.2 mm diameter and some triangles are prepared from them, which after filing, all the lateral are made according to the plan and as desirable and in order to finish the plan,there is a need for metal wires which some steps are taken to prepare them. Then to make Khatam the head-artisian draws the drawings of different figures which are to be made in order to make Khatam and these wooden triangles or metal ones are put beside each other by the hands of skillful artist and glued to each other and made firm with the use of strings of which made called paddle( expression) After some hours the strings are filed and four paddles which hare been made are put beside each other and then are glued to each other again resulting in something called "toglo" the next steps which is popular as making flowers is initiated.
In this step, 6 wires are glued around each corner by a round metal wire which is made in six lateral figure and called shamse, and then the resulting structure is firmed by strings which a star-like plan is obtained, these plans are so repeated that the required general plan is made and put under pressure of press machine and Khatam is made after some steps of cutting and gluing the very delicate layers to each other that all of these steps from the beginning up to the end consists of 400 operational steps. The Khaatam are glued based on the plan, color, shape, dimensions and the place of application and by making different plans and making similar figures or symmetrical shapes, all the plan surface is adorned by signets which is then prepared by performing some repairs, filing, brushing and under cuttings and finally grinding and straightening of Khatam surface, and then oiling and polishing by some special materials such as sealer and polisher. The quality of a Khatam depends on its fine drawing and regularity of the plan, all of which are summarized in the skills of head artisian.
, Shiraz
and Rey
. In the Safavid era, the art of marquetry flourished in the southern cities of Iran, especially in Isfahan, Shiraz
and Kerman
. An inlaid desk, which is one of the definitive masterpieces of this art, was awarded the first prize and a gold medal in an art exposition in Brussels
recently. This desk is now preserved in the National Museum in Washington.
Also in some of the Majestic places and homes, doors and various items have been inlaid. The inlaid-ornamented rooms in Saadabad Palace and the Marble palace in Tehran
are among masterpieces of this art.
Important wood carving of Iran can be found in mosque
s, palaces and ancient buildings. Some of the Iranian inlaid works are preserved in museums inside or outside Iran . The usual images are rose
leaves and drawings of birds and animals. Latticed woodwork is another art, which is made by hand. Old latticed doors and windows of Iran are famous. Among other artworks sudorific inlaid work can be mentioned. In this kind of inlaid work, the artist strictly avoids protrusions on the surface of the wood. The images cut out of natural wood in various colors are finely inlaid in the wooden outline. After the application of a fine finish, an even surface is portrayed, which tend to produce an interesting image of trees, flowers and animals. The art of inlaid and sudorific woodwork is supported by the workshops of the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran
. These arts are also practiced in private workshops.
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
version of marquetry
Marquetry
Marquetry is the art and craft of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns, designs or pictures. The technique may be applied to case furniture or even seat furniture, to decorative small objects with smooth, veneerable surfaces or to freestanding pictorial panels...
, art forms made by decorating the surface of wooden articles with delicate pieces of wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
, bone
Bone
Bones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
and metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
precisely-cut geometrical shapes. Khatam is also the capital of Khatam County
Khatam County
Khatam County is a county in Yazd Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Herat. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 31,695, in 8,144 families. The county is subdivided into two districts: the Central District and Marvast District...
in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Khatam kari is the art of crafting a Khatam. Common materials used in the construction of inlaid articles are gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
, brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
, aluminum and twisted wire. Artworks with smaller inlaid pieces are generally more highly valued.
Design and construction
Designing of inlaid articles is a highly elaborate process. In each cubic centimeter of inlaid work, up to approximately 250 pieces of metal, bone, ivory and wood are laid side by side. Inlaid articles in the Safavid eraSafavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the Muslim conquest of Persia and established the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning...
took on a special significance as artists created their precious artworks. These works include; doors and windows, mirror frames, Quran boxes, inlaid boxes, pen and penholders, lanterns and inlaid ornamented shrines.
The steps of making Khatam: First different kind of wood in different colors are provided and then with the relevant tools they are cut each horing 30 cm length and 1-5.2 mm diameter and some triangles are prepared from them, which after filing, all the lateral are made according to the plan and as desirable and in order to finish the plan,there is a need for metal wires which some steps are taken to prepare them. Then to make Khatam the head-artisian draws the drawings of different figures which are to be made in order to make Khatam and these wooden triangles or metal ones are put beside each other by the hands of skillful artist and glued to each other and made firm with the use of strings of which made called paddle( expression) After some hours the strings are filed and four paddles which hare been made are put beside each other and then are glued to each other again resulting in something called "toglo" the next steps which is popular as making flowers is initiated.
In this step, 6 wires are glued around each corner by a round metal wire which is made in six lateral figure and called shamse, and then the resulting structure is firmed by strings which a star-like plan is obtained, these plans are so repeated that the required general plan is made and put under pressure of press machine and Khatam is made after some steps of cutting and gluing the very delicate layers to each other that all of these steps from the beginning up to the end consists of 400 operational steps. The Khaatam are glued based on the plan, color, shape, dimensions and the place of application and by making different plans and making similar figures or symmetrical shapes, all the plan surface is adorned by signets which is then prepared by performing some repairs, filing, brushing and under cuttings and finally grinding and straightening of Khatam surface, and then oiling and polishing by some special materials such as sealer and polisher. The quality of a Khatam depends on its fine drawing and regularity of the plan, all of which are summarized in the skills of head artisian.
Examples
The ornamentation of the doors of holy places predominantly consists of inlaid motifs. Samples of these can be observed in the cities of Mahshad, QomQom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
, Shiraz
Shiraz, Iran
Shiraz is the sixth most populous city in Iran and is the capital of Fars Province, the city's 2009 population was 1,455,073. Shiraz is located in the southwest of Iran on the Roodkhaneye Khoshk seasonal river...
and Rey
Rey
Rey means "king" in Spanish and Occitan, derived from the Latin rex. It is used as a surname throughout the world. It is also used as a given name for both males and females, sometimes as an alternative to Raymond...
. In the Safavid era, the art of marquetry flourished in the southern cities of Iran, especially in Isfahan, Shiraz
Shiraz
Shiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor...
and Kerman
Kerman
- Geological characteristics :For the Iranian paleontologists, Kerman has always been considered a fossil paradise. Finding new dinosaur footprints in 2005 has now revealed new hopes for paleontologists to better understand the history of this area.- Economy :...
. An inlaid desk, which is one of the definitive masterpieces of this art, was awarded the first prize and a gold medal in an art exposition in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
recently. This desk is now preserved in the National Museum in Washington.
Also in some of the Majestic places and homes, doors and various items have been inlaid. The inlaid-ornamented rooms in Saadabad Palace and the Marble palace in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
are among masterpieces of this art.
Current status
Currently this art is being practiced in Isfahan, Shiraz and Tehran. Inlay masters, preserving the nobility of their art, have brought forth great innovations in this fine art. Woodcarving is one of the other outstanding Iranian arts. Designing has a special role in this skill. In wood-carving, magnificent patterns inlaid in wood, ivory or bone, with simple or protruded shapes are created.Important wood carving of Iran can be found in mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s, palaces and ancient buildings. Some of the Iranian inlaid works are preserved in museums inside or outside Iran . The usual images are rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
leaves and drawings of birds and animals. Latticed woodwork is another art, which is made by hand. Old latticed doors and windows of Iran are famous. Among other artworks sudorific inlaid work can be mentioned. In this kind of inlaid work, the artist strictly avoids protrusions on the surface of the wood. The images cut out of natural wood in various colors are finely inlaid in the wooden outline. After the application of a fine finish, an even surface is portrayed, which tend to produce an interesting image of trees, flowers and animals. The art of inlaid and sudorific woodwork is supported by the workshops of the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran
Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran
Iran Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization is an educational and research institution overseeing numerous associated museum complexes throughout Iran. It is administered and funded by the Government of Iran....
. These arts are also practiced in private workshops.