Introducing Fields of Handicrafts

It is one of the native and particular arts in Guilan province and is formed by sewing silk strings on the surface of a textile through a needle with small hook so that beautiful and impressive designs are created. The main center for this activity is Rasht so it is known as Rasht embroidery. Designs used in this art are armlet, Roman Band, various Bote Jeghe, flower & bird, fichu, bergamot and so on. Rasht has three embroidery methods: Simple, Embossed and Mosaic. Usage of this art from past until now has been curtain, carpet, cover of saddle, prayer rug, cover for grandees' tomb, hat, cloth, cushion, tablecloth, counterpane and so on.

Chamoush is one of the traditional and genuine footwears of Guilan province which provides from natural leather. It does not have heel. All stages to provide Chamoush perform traditionally and it decorates by colorful strings (green, white, red). The center for Chomoush production is Masouleh. Today Chamoush production has been limited and decorative productions provide in small sizes. Guilan Chamoush has UNESCO Seal of Excellence.

It is a kind of wooden handicrafts which is done by scrapping wood horizontally. Making different legs for furniture, handrails, sugar bowl, stick and … are common in Guilan. Wood natural designs while growing in spring and summer are used for wood turning. The main center of wood turning is in the city of Rasht.

It is kind of wooden handicrafts through which wood is covered according to the considered design and drawing. This technique produces delicate and elegant wooden products. In that art, products provided by this technique, paint is not used and design and drawing is different according to the type of productions such as painted designs of flower and bird on woody flower pots, plates, spoons and different dishes. In the past the important center for this activity in Guilan province was Rasht and now as this activity has been limited, small workshops are working in this city.

Mat weaving is the oldest and maybe the most ancient handicrafts. Weaving groundsheet, basket, cap and … by mat is common in Guilan. Two kinds of herbaceous fibers, "Li" & "Soof" are used for weaving in Guilan. Applied designs in groundsheets are according to the name and addresses of regions where this activity is concerned, like Ghaziani flower. Today mat waving is common in Bandar Anzali and Khomam.

Bamboo is called "Nei Kheizaran" in Persian which means rattan. With a simple tool, Guilan craftsmen shatter Bamboo to thin and equal lines and weave various baskets, shades and ….. Basket's designs are created through placing lines up and down while weaving. To make a basket, natural color of bamboo wood is used. The important centers for this activity are in eastern of Guilan (Lialestan Village and Langroud City).

When pieces of wood which are cut in different and unique geometric shapes, place in a definite and frequent position next to each other trellis work is done. Knots are small joints of wood which are connected as tongue and groove. Trellis work is used to architectural decorations, holy places' gate, tombs, pulpits and ….

It is one of the handicrafts in Guilan. This art draws on a kind of squash called Kadoo Ghelyani (Langenaria siceraria) through simple tools and it is used as a leg for hookah. While squash is growing, it is formed by wooden frame as desired shape. After harvesting and before being dry different plant and animal designs will draw on it. Sometimes squashes are painted by natural materials. The major center of this activity is Astaneh Ashrafieh and Lahijan (Lialestan village).

Morvar is branch of a kind of willow. By twisting twigs and passing them through each other a steady and severe texture obtains. Productions include different baskets, desk, chair, dresser and so on. Morvar weaving is common in Astaneh Ashrafieh and Somesara.

In Persian wood marquetry is known as "Monabat Kari" rooted from Nabat which means plant. Wood marquetry is called to an embossed design and carving on wood. Designs used in this art are often included Arabesque, Cathay and human & animal figures. Wood marquetry is used to create doors' decoration, Quran rack, desk and also wooden sculptured. This art is scattered in Guilan province.

Mosaic in words is every streaky thing. Mosaic art is created by setting colorful pieces of woods next to each other so that different designs create. In other words delight pictures appear by darkness & brightness of woods' color. Using simple designs (Arabesque, Cathay), written designs, miniature, historical buildings and monuments, figures and portrait are usual in mosaic. This art uses natural color of wood and sometimes drawing on wood at the end of the work is done. Mosaic is used to make surface of desks, tableau, Mirror frame, boxes, chessboard and so on. Doing this art is scattered all around Guilan province.

kilim is one of the hand-woven crafts which knitted on scaffold through colorful wools, smooth and nap-free, and it is usually uses as a groundsheet. Designs used in kilim weaving are inspired by culture and believes exist around weaver so that it knitted subjectively and in geometric shapes due to its weaving techniques. kilim weaving is common in western cities of Guilan province such as Rezvanshahr, Talesh and Astara. Also there are samples in Ammarloo. kilims are mostly weaved simple or double-faced. Also weaving one-faced and Varni kilims are common in Guilan.

Jajim is one of the fields in traditional weaving. It is a hand-woven crafts with clear fibers which mostly have colorful stripped or rhomboid designs. As in the past Jajim was used to wrapping beds so it was called (Jay Jam) in Persian and over times it changed to Jajim to simply pronunciation. Jajim is used as a curtain, prayer rug, doormat, counterpane, surface of furniture and so on. This art is common between Talesh and Tork people resident in west of Guilan.

Wrapper weaving is one of the local arts of Guilan and it is a kind of colorful hand-woven which the center of its production is Ghasemabad village in Roodsar city. Wrappers are weaved in two kinds: simple (plaid) and designed including plant, animal, human, celestial shapes and surrounding objects designs. Wrapper was used to provide a cover for bed, ladies cloth, dress, men's shawl, counterpane and tablecloth and so on. Native women wrap it around their waist.

Shawl is a textile which is mostly weaved in a single color and lattice shape. It turned to a rough and fluff textile like felt after padding by water and soap so that the possibility of snow and sleet penetration is very low. Most of the time its color is related to its natural wool color and sometimes it dyes with plant color. Shawl textile is used to sewing men's cloth such as suit, hat and shepherd's cloths.

Sock is one of the traditional textures in mountainous region of Guilan and it is a necessities for people who live in mountains. Due to having genuine and unique designs, socks hold a particular importance. For weaving socks various colors and different designs such as, Ayeneh Posht, bride, eye & Eyebrow, scorpion and so on are used. Socks are produced from wool or silk in two kinds: without shank and long-shank.

Doll weaving is one of the decorative handicrafts. Weaving traditional dolls in Masouleh is more obvious than other regions. These colorful dolls weave by knitting needle and a needle with small hook and it fills with cotton and wool. Today these dolls are souvenirs of this city.

Chain stitch is called a set of productions which is woven by natural and artificial fibers and through a needle with small hook. There is not any limitation for weaving and color scheme technique and therefore various productions such as cloth, gloves, different tablecloth, brush, and so on. Almost all regions of guilan are familiar with that art and it is a kind of hobby for women and girls.                                                 

Felt is a kind of woolen groundsheet which is not woven but produce through press and humidity so that wool fibers twist together. Felt is produced by colorful woolen fiber and geometric shapes. Simple and shapeless felts are used to produce shepherded cloths. Felt is usually produced in Guilan heights where animal husbandry is common.

Pottery is one of the local and antique crafts in Guilan. Fictile remains of Guilan prehistoric in regions of Marlik, Siahkal and Amlash are art masterpieces. At the present pottery is common in most of regions in Guilan province especially in Asalam, Roodsar, Talesh, Siahkal and Shaft.  Fictiles has decorative and applied aspects. Today various glazed and unglazed ware dishes such as Gamaj, crock, jug and other different dishes with modern designs are produced.

 Local Cloth (traditional rustic cloth)

Local clothes are symbol of work, thought, style, environment and people life and due to ethnic diversity in Guilan province, it has a lot of verities in design and color. Local cloth in different regions has lots of pieces, it means that a set of a cloth included: two or three cap, vest, coat, Waist shawl, skirt, pants and footwear. In different parts of Guilan province vivid  colors is used for cloths. The important centers for this production are Ghasemabad, Talesh, Roodbar, Rasht, Siahkal.

Cloisonné enamel is one of the branches of enamel working which is produced in Rasht. This art uses pure silver and enamel paints. Base of the work is made by silver and metal narrow wires used to draw plant design on the surface of it. The interior of designs fills by enamel paints and it heats into furnace. This art is used to create artifacts such as sets of tea-drinking, tray, candlestick and so on.

In mosaic working small and big pieces of cutting mosaic which carved according to different designs are placed next to each other. Most of religious places in Guilan are decorated by this art from past until now. Today limited numbers of workshops engage in this art.

Digging in Marlik hill and its known golden cup which is seemly and masterpiece for the world museum, represents a successful present of metallic crafts in this land. Ancient Iranians believed that drinking from these cups will transfer power to them. From Marlik's tombs, rare antique crafts such as different gear of weapons, sword, and ladies' jewelries have been found so that the decoration on them are beautiful and aesthetic. Technique of this work exploits from metals such as Copper, Berenj, Silver and Gold. Burins with different edges are used in this work.

It is one of the applied handicrafts in villages of Guilan which more included agricultural equipments. This equipments are sickle, dagger, knife, steel pen, stud and so on. The used alloy is steel and iron so that they are formed by a hammer after coming out from forge. In the most cities of Guilan province where agriculture is common this activity exists.