Wood block printing
Wood block printing with floral design is considered as a traditional and genuine Iranian art. The article focuses on the emergence of this type of Iranian art.
The fabric print is a vivid manifestation of art and culture of the Iranian people who have been born with art and live with it.
Researches show that Iranian handicrafts enjoy ample diversity and delicacy. The article seeks to unveil the unknown about this art in order to manifest a small part of the past civilization of Iran.
The production of dyed designs on fabric using stamps and mold has apparently emerged in India in 4th century B.C. It has been mentioned by Chinese scripts that print fabrics were brought to China from India in 140 B.C. The word Chit means print fabric in Persian and the word has an Indian origin.
The study of Egyptian archaeological objects has indicated that Chit had found its way into Egyptian markets in 14th century. Printing on fabric was spread in Iran in the Sassanid era and new methods for decorating silk and cotton materials were invented.
Printing means dyeing parts of fabric and it differs from dyeing since in case of dyeing all parts of the fabric are dyed with the same color. In case of printing, one or a number of colors are used on a white or dyed background in order to create the desired design. This type of art was brought into Iran in early 7th century lunar hijri concurrent with the Mongol invasion of Iran.
To name the important centers of wood block printing, one can refer to the cities of Isfahan, Shiraz, Boroujerd, Hamedan, Rasht, Kashan, Nakhjavan, Yazd, Semnan, Gonabad, Najafabad as well as the villages of Farsan, From the view of significance, Boroujerdi wood block printing fabrics stood in the first place.
Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi
Other links:
Iranian art: Termeh
Iranian Carpets: Gabbeh
