Discover Iran’s cultural richness through its Iranian handicrafts. Our guide presents the top 10 Iranian souvenirs for travelers, each a testament to the country’s heritage. From intricately woven carpets to exquisite ceramics, these pieces offer a glimpse into Iran’s artistic legacy. Explore our curated selection and find the perfect keepsake to commemorate your journey.
Souvenirs are the best reminders of a trip to any country. They can act just like photos; souvenirs freeze time and the memory of exploring a new destination in a tiny object. When you look at them, they joyfully bring back a flood of memories to you.
There are unique handicrafts and souvenirs that you can’t find anywhere else but in winding ancient bazaars of Iran. They are manifestations of thousands of years of art, expertise, and innovation of Iranian artists. By purchasing at least one of these 10 famous 10 Must-Have Iranian handicraft souvenirs for Travelers of Iran, you’ll take back home a part of this ancient country with you.
Contents
1. Traditional Fabrics
Each city in Iran produces its unique type of fabric. It is also observable in the traditional and local costumes of different cities. For example, Qalamzani is a special print technique used in Isfahan to create Iranian patterns on fabrics. Pateh is the art of women in Kerman and they generate abstract patterns on thick woolen fabrics with colored cotton sutures. Termeh comes originally from Yazd and is the art of printing paisley designs on silk fabrics.
2. Persian Miniature Painting
Persian miniature painting, an intricate art form dating back to the 13th century, captivates with its meticulous detail and vibrant colors. Originating in Persia (modern-day Iran), these small-scale artworks depict scenes from literature, history, and everyday life with astonishing precision. Miniature painters, often trained from a young age, use delicate brushes and pigments to create masterpieces on paper or other surfaces. Each miniature tells a story, drawing viewers into a world of beauty and imagination. To acquire Persian miniature paintings, travelers can explore local bazaars, art galleries, and specialized handicraft shops across Iran, with particularly rich offerings found in cities like Tehran, Isfahan and Yazd.
3. Giveh
Giveh is a type of summer shoe which is normally lightweight, durable and suitable for long walks, especially for rural men. It is one of the famous handicrafts of different cities in the country such as Fars, Isfahan, Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari, Kermanshah and Zanjan. All stages of the production of Giveh are done by hand and it is generally made of rug, silk, fabric, and leather. Giveh is normally designed with beautiful colors and patterns. In recent years, local artists have tried to bring this traditional art closer to the tastes of younger generations and this has revived this ancient art.
4. Minakari
This art of painting has its roots for more than 5,000 years and the result is one of the most famous Iranian handicrafts. This art is a combination of fire and soil mixed with the art of painting to create beautiful patterns of flowers and birds. The predominant color in Minakari is azure, although red and green are also widely used. Nowadays this art is mostly done on copper, but it can also be done on gold and silver.
Gold is the only metal that does not oxidize when the enamel melts, so it allows for a more detailed design to the enamel, while copper and silver do not have this quality. Isfahan is the center for this amazing art craft. In the old bazaar of this city, you will see many samples of Minakari in forms of plates, pots, cups and other decorative objects.
5. Carpets and Rugs
Undoubtedly, the carpets of Iran are famous worldwide and having one of them can be the best souvenir of Iran ever! If you find it hard to afford a silk hand-woven carpet, you can buy a cheaper product like a small rug. Traditionally designed cushions can also be a good choice as they can be easily folded and placed in your suitcase.
6. Khatamkari
Khatamkari is another famous Iranian art with a very long history. Khatam is a combination of regular polygons patterns and is made using different raw materials in different colors. It is a very precise and delicate art, requiring a great deal of care and work. Materials such as wood, bones (elephant, camel and horse bone) and metal wires are used for producing it. Artists apply these materials to make jewelry boxes, photo frames, pens, and other decorative objects. Although some of these artworks are just embroidery, there are also works integrated with miniature images. Khatamkari can surely be a valuable souvenir or gift for your friends, family members or even for yourself.
7. Pottery and Ceramics
A short visit to the National Museum of Iran reveals the long history of pottery in Iran, dating back to thousands of years ago. Nowadays cities like Lahijan, Maybod, and Natanz have preserved this ancient art. They produce different products in the form of hand-painted containers and cups. Besides, Lalejin city in Hamedan province is listed as the capital of pottery in the world.
8. Qalam Zani
This is one of Iran’s traditional arts which includes decorating and painting motifs on metal objects, especially copper, gold, silver, and brass. This great art with thousands of years of history became popular in the Achaemenid era and reached its peak in the Sassanid era. Nowadays, artists first fill the object with bitumen and gypsum to reduce the noise of the pen and then draw the desired pattern on it. When passing through the old bazaar of Isfahan, tourists can hear the sound of artists working to keep the art of Qalam Zani alive.
9. Tea Sets
Considering the fact that Iranian people constantly drink tea, it is not surprising to know that there are several sets of cups and glasses for different occasions in every Iranian’s home. Some of them are decorated with traditional designs known as Shah Abbasi and normally have decorative use. For those visitors who have enough space to carry a samovar as a souvenir in their luggage, it would be an opportunity to taste Iranian tea in their own country.
10. Turquoise and Firouzeh Koubi
Neyshabur is not only famous because of Khayam, the great Iranian poet. Just outside the city, there are numerous mines from which turquoise stone is mined and used for producing the jewelry. The turquoise stone is also used in artworks such as Firouzeh Koubi. It is an Iranian handicraft made by placing small pieces of turquoise stones on the surface of containers, ornaments and decorative objects (from bases of copper, brass, silver or bronze). Between the turquoise pieces is a dark lacquer. The denser the turquoise stones are and the shorter the distance between the turquoise pieces, the greater is its artistic value. In Iranian culture, turquoise has a therapeutic, healing nature. In addition, the turquoise color is widely used in the decorations of Iranian mosques and palaces.
Final Word
Explore the beauty of Iranian craftsmanship and bring home a piece of its rich cultural heritage. Whether it’s a handwoven rug or a delicate piece of pottery, these souvenirs encapsulate the spirit of Iran. Each item tells a story of tradition, artistry, and craftsmanship passed down through generations. With our guide to the top 10 must-have Iranian handicraft souvenirs, you can cherish the memories of your journey for years to come. Experience the magic of Iran’s cultural treasures and take a piece of it with you wherever you go.
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I love visit such beautiful country
Learn english
Iran is a divers country, I should say Iran is home to the world’s oldest civilization, and it is known for its carpets , tea, rice and many things.