Enamel Crafts in Iran

Enamel Crafts in Iran

Enamel is one of the most important handicrafts in Iran. Enamel, enamel has a history of 1500 years, but the oldest enameled objects discovered in Iran are about 5,000 BC. At present, the most important enamel poles can be named Isfahan.
Enamel is done on metals such as copper and silver, but in the past gold objects were the most important ones used for enamel work. Enamel paints are produced by oxidizing metals at very high temperatures.
The Dehkhoda Dictionary states that enamel is an art enamel that uses glazed colors to paint gold, silver and copper. Enamel literally means sky, since the background color of most of the enameled objects is blue or green, the name of the enamel is chosen for these crafts.
We said that the history of enamel work goes back to the centuries BC Although it is not clear where the exact origin of this art is, we can say with certainty that enamel art has become more prominent in the land of Iran than anywhere else.
Apart from the enamel artifacts discovered in Iran, other types of enamel have remained in Europe from the Byzantine period. Also in China, there is some kind of enamel in the past.

Enamel on pottery

Enamel on pottery is considered to be a merging craft. Throughout history, many fine works of art and crafts have been merged into two or more arts that have given rise to a particular era and style. Pottery has also been one of the most ancient arts founded by humanity about 5 years BC.
As you know, pottery has always been one of the most important historical discoveries ever discovered.
So there is no doubt that man has learned and developed pottery for many years to meet his needs and to create works of art. Pottery is one of the works created years after man made the first pottery and has been used to enhance the elegance and beauty of simple pottery works.
Pottery glazing is still done in many handicraft workshops, but the price and elegance of these industries are not metallic.
To make the pottery on the pottery, you must select a suitable pottery and smooth the surface with a soft sanding to prepare the layout and color of the enamel. The rest of the steps you take to make pottery pots are similar to pots on metal.

Enamel on copper

Copper enamel is now more commonly used than other types of enamel. We said in the past one of the most important types of enamel was the kind that was made on containers or gold objects.
However, in addition to enamel on copper, gold and silver, enamel on ceramics and glass are also common, which are much less expensive than metal types. In addition, metal containers or enamels on which they are painted have a greater elegance and beauty and last a long time.
Copper enamel is one of the most popular types of art because the properties of copper metal are such that after gold and silver are the best metal to apply paints, and as we said, enamel paints are glazed, ie, oxide. Other metals are obtained at high temperatures.
Copper metal also has good coordination with this oxidation and high temperature of the furnace. To make the enamel work on copper, the copper dish or object is first formed by the master of copper, and then the enamel master completely oxidizes the dish to white.
After that, the colors and other enamel roles are executed and placed in the furnace at each stage until the colors are fixed and the finish is desired.

Enamel containers

Enamel containers are a popular item in these crafts. It should be noted that enamel containers are often decorative and not used anymore. Enamel containers include plates, pots, laminates, sugar, etc.
At present, especially in Isfahan markets, these dishes are made of copper, but other types, such as enamel, are made on earthenware and glassware in our country. Earlier we mentioned that old enamel works were usually on gold metal because gold does not melt and deform due to the oxidation of enamel paints in the furnace.
After gold, silverware was one of the enameled objects, but now these fine crafts are run on copper and are more widely available because they are more affordable. An important point to note about enamel containers is that handmade copper containers are on the market at a higher price and are a great gift. Sometimes the art of embroidery, jewelry, and so on are combined with enamel to create beautiful works of art. Depending on the raw materials and the amount of time used to create a work of art, its price is higher.

Detect the original enamel dishes

Genuine enamel dishes are easy to identify for enamel masters or those working on these crafts, but you can also consider a few things before buying these dishes:
Enamel containers do not have cracks in the original, if you look at the color or the overall pattern of the enamel containers, lines, or cracks, it is a sign that the oven has been left in the oven for a long time and does not have the required quality.
– Whether or not handmade enamel containers have a stamp or engraver’s name.
– You can touch the surface of the enamel container if you feel bold, curved or curved, which means the container is not made of quality.
– The thickness of the paint on the entire surface of the enamel container should be uniform.
– The back of the container should be smooth and no traces of overtones or cracks can be seen.

Enamel plate

Enamel plate is very popular among enamel dishes. Enamel plates are used as exquisite gifts, sometimes housed in a beautiful box and sometimes with hooks that can be hung on the wall. The sizes used to make the enamel plate vary.
Usually, these containers are circular in shape, with a diameter of 1 cm or 2 cm. Of course, there are larger sizes of these plates, especially in handmade enamel containers, the sizes are more varied.
To make an enameled plate, the master craftsman first uses the sheets of copper to make the plate in the desired design and size. Sometimes the master does this by hammering and sometimes with the machine that the type of hand-made enamel is much more expensive than the other.
Then this simple copper plate is given to Master Minakar, who paints the plate with a white hand and puts it in the oven. They are then painted with other colors, container backgrounds, and designs, and at each stage of coloring or drawing, the plate goes to the furnace to make the enamel color polished and fixed.

Enamel Art

Enamel art has reached its climax more than anywhere else in Iran and the city of Isfahan. It is true that enamel has a long history going back to BC, but at the time it was only available to the wealthy and courtiers because it was executed on precious metals such as gold and silver but later on. By the time of the Seljuks, or during the Mongol era, many chemists had turned to science to create more art and create enamel art rather than seek out legendary elixirs.