The art of gilding in Iran: the shining gem of Islamic arts
Gilding is one of the most delicate and beautiful Iranian decorative arts in which, using natural colors, gold and silver, very delicate geometric and plant designs are created on paper or other surfaces. This art is a combination of mathematics, geometry, botany and art, which has become one of the most prominent handicrafts of Iran over the years.
The history of gilding in Iran
The roots of gilding in Iran go back to the Sassanid era. During this period, gilding was used to decorate books, fabrics and decorative objects. With the arrival of Islam in Iran, the art of gilding reached its peak and it was used to decorate Qurans, religious books and works of art.
The main elements of gilding
- Color: natural colors such as lapis lazuli, arsenic, turmeric, etc. are used in gilding.
- Gold and silver: Gold and silver are used as the main colors and symbols of light and brightness in gilding.
- Designs: Geometric, plant and slime designs are the main elements of gilding.
- Line: beautiful lines of Kufi, Tholt and Nastaliq are used in gilding.
Types of gilding - Book gilding: It is the most common type of gilding and is used to decorate the margins, pages and covers of books.
- Tile gilding: In this type of gilding, gilding designs are executed on tiles.
- Fabric gilding: In this type of gilding, gilding designs are woven on fabrics.
- Wood gilding: In this type of gilding, gilding designs are engraved on wood.