Middle East & Central Asia
🇮🇷 Handicrafts of Iran
Iran is known for Persian carpets and kilims, khatam marquetry, mina enamel, turquoise setting, engraved copper and hand-printed qalamkar cloth.
Handicrafts of Iran: an introduction
Iran is one of the craft-producing countries where the product, not the factory, is what a buyer is really choosing between. It is known for Persian carpets and kilims, khatam marquetry, mina enamel, turquoise setting, engraved copper and hand-printed qalamkar cloth.
All fifteen craft families are shown below. The ones marked in blue are where craft output in Iran concentrates; the rest are made or traded there on a smaller scale, and are worth a look if you are sourcing across categories.
- Handloom & Textile Crafts
- Embroidery & Needlework
- Handmade Carpets & Rugs
- Pottery & Ceramics
- Metalware & Brassware
- Woodcraft & Carving
- Stone & Marble Craft
- Handmade Jewellery & Beadwork
- Leather Craft
- Cane, Bamboo & Basketry
- Paper Craft & Papier-Mâché
- Lacquerware & Painted Wood
- Glass Craft & Beadmaking
- Handmade Toys & Dolls
- Ritual & Devotional Objects
Blue = strongest in Iran · plain = also available
Each craft-family page explains what to look for in the finished product — quality markers, sizes, finishes, care and price behaviour — wherever in the world it is made. Read the family page for the product, and this page for the country.
Buying well here means being specific about the finished piece: the exact size, the colour range you will accept, and the finish. Handmade variation is normal and should be planned for, not treated as a defect.
Explore handicrafts in Iran
| Handicraft products of the country | Explore → |
| Craft towns and buying places | Explore → |
| Signature crafts and traditions | Explore → |
| Export councils and trade bodies | Explore → |
| Artisan cooperatives and fair trade groups | Explore → |
| Geographical indication crafts | Explore → |
| Best buys and signature products | Explore → |
| Prices and value for money | Explore → |
| Export documentation and duty | Explore → |
| Ports, freight and consolidation | Explore → |
| Craft fairs and sourcing events | Explore → |
| Craft museums and design archives | Explore → |