Similar foreign goods in the original Iranian handicraft market
Handicrafts have long been considered one of the most original handicrafts of mankind, which is associated with the culture and customs of each nation and shows the culture and identity of that nation.
For some time now, with the arrival of similar foreign goods in the market, we have witnessed the lack of motivation and reluctance of Yazdi masters and artists, which has provided the ground for the recession of our country’s original handicrafts market in Yazd province.
Chinese pottery and ceramics compete with original Meybodi pottery and ceramics in the market
Professor Mahmoud is a well-known and old master of Meybodi who has been making pottery and ceramics in Meybod city since his childhood.
During the 60 years that he has been sitting in the pottery pit, this master has been able to produce and market with four main elements of water, soil, wind and fire with more than seventy types of materials with traditional designs of Ms. and Fish Sun and different colored designs.
Professor Mahmoud has so far been able to provide employment for eight workers in his small workshop, but now he is complaining about the unspoken, which is indicative of the business market.
Regarding the prosperity of the market and the sale of pottery and ceramics in Meybod, he says: The prosperity of the market in the past was very good and remarkable, so much so that it was a necessity for itself, but now with the entry of low quality foreign goods in the market we see the closure of pottery and ceramics. Yazdi vendors began selling low-quality, foreign-printed goods that have been well received by the public.
Mahmoud Aghaei added: Chinese goods are very low quality compared to Meybodi pottery, so that the ceramics of Yazd province are produced by artists and craftsmen and have a higher quality and lower cost, but Chinese goods are printed by machine. It is possible, it has the right color and glaze, but it does not have quality.
Dehghan, the province’s deputy for handicrafts, said: Pottery is one of the main and oldest handicrafts in the province, which unfortunately has been in decline for several years due to the import of low-quality goods similar to foreign ones.
He added: We have been able to collect Chinese goods from the market in most of the heritage stores this year, but we are still witnessing the sale of them in some shops, which we hope the government will take action to prevent. Let’s not be an Iranian market.
More than 150 artists and masters of Yazdi work in 40 pottery and ceramic production units
Pottery and ceramics is one of the most original handicrafts in Yazd, which currently employs more than 150 artists and masters of pottery and ceramics.
The arrival of low-quality foreign goods in the market is not only a concern for Master Mahmoud, but also for all Meybodi artists.
Alamdar, a professor of old Meybodi work, says:Considering that the slogan of the year is to support Iranian goods, but the support of officials is low, so that similar goods produced in the country should not be imported, but unfortunately every day they see their imports as We are a container and this has caused the slump in the pottery and ceramics market of the province.
Regarding employment, he added: I used to have four workers in the workshop, but now, due to the slump in the market, I only work alone.
If officials give low-interest loans to producers and prevent the import of similar foreign goods, it can export its products with the high potential of Yazd province in the field of pottery and ceramics, but if this art is supported, said Meybodi. This art may not be popular in the province for another four or five years.