ABBASIAN HOUSE
September 2, 2025
PERSIAN MIRROR-WORK
September 2, 2025Khātam is an old Persian method for inlaying. It is a type of marquetry in which art forms are created by embellishing the surface of wooden objects with thin bits of wood, metal that are meticulously carved into complicated geometric patterns. Khātam-kari or Khātam -bandi is the art of creating a Khātam. Inlaid objects are commonly made of gold, silver, brass, aluminium, and twisted wire.
There are various traditions about the inventor of Khātam among its creators and artists, but what is worth mentioning is that it is not known exactly who first invented the method. But many narratives consider the origin of Khātam art to be Shiraz because the oldest works of Khātam have been seen in this city and the use of Khātam art is related to the pulpit of the ancient mosque of Shiraz, which is more than 1000 years old.
It is stated in the Persian Encyclopaedia: "The time of the beginning of this art is not known, and what is said about it is associated with legends. Some masters of inlaying are still of the opinion that the art of inlaying is the miracle of Prophet Abraham." There are many evidences that Shiraz is the origin of inlaying in Iran and the capital of inlaying in Iran. However, during the Safavid era, this art was transferred to Isfahan and it was mass-produced as a craft in Isfahan.
In actuality, Khātam is a collection of regular polygons with varying numbers of sides that are produced from various raw materials and colours. The seal is made up of five, six, seven, eight, or ten-sided polygons, with the smallest unit being a regular triangle or triangle that serves as the interface between the other elements. In general, all Khātam components are made up of little triangles. In reality, this art is another form of mosaic art that incorporates painting and miniatures. Making such components demands a great deal of care and accuracy, which has turned Khātam-kari into a prolific and significant art form.
Designing an inlay device is a time-consuming and challenging technique that allows the artist to construct and embellish 200 inlay pieces for each square meter of his artwork.
Inlaying is a popular art form in museums across the world, with the majority of these pieces created by Iranian painters. The Benaki Museum in Athens has an inlaid chessboard, while the Brussels Museum has a stunning inlaid table including works by Iranian painters.