16,000 handicraft artists active in Zanjan Province
About 16,000 craftspeople are active in Zanjan Province, 5,000 of whom are involved in the copper industry, said the head of Zanjan’s Union of Coppersmiths.
Mosen Salimi noted that more than 1,250 coppersmithing workshops are operating across the province in the fields of qalam-zani (engraving), firouzeh- kubi (turquoise-inlaying), stone-carving, silver-inlaying and mina-kari (enameling).
“According to historical findings the history of copper industry dates back to 9500 BCE and the cold-hammering method was used until 5000 BCE,” he said.
Referring to financial and insurance problems as well as high taxation faced by those engaged in the copper industry.
Meanwhile, Head of Zanjan Province’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization Saeed Safavi said that during the short term of its operation the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts carried out very fruitful measures to support those active in the sector.
He went on to say that 520,000 people are involved in activities related to the handicraft sector, of whom 16,000 are active in 500 branches of handicrafts in Zanjan Province.
“A law has been ratified for supporting handicraft trainers and artists and efforts are underway to enforce it as soon as possible”, he said.
Safavi mentioned that a significant amount of financial support has been provided to handicraft artists operating within household units in recent years. He highlighted that visiting handicraft workshops is a sub-category of tourism, and a related pilot plan has been initiated in the province in this regard.
Moreover, the official emphasized that brand-building and effective packaging can contribute to the growth of the handicraft sector. He noted that several workshops have been established in the province to support these efforts.
Handmade knives, a local type of women’s shoe named charoq, light cotton summer shoes, felt, tapestry work, carpet, kilim, jajim (loosely woven woolen carpet), monabat-kari (wood-engraving), and embroideries are among the traditional handicrafts found in Zanjan.
The city of Zanjan has been officially recognized as the National City Filigree Art, which has a history dating back several thousand years. Filigree is known for its intricate metalwork, ranging from delicate jewelry pieces to cast iron railings and balustrades. It involves creating finely shaped works using silver threads or ribbons to craft eslimi patterns and other geometric designs. These intricate works are used to adorn luxury items such as cups, containers, candlesticks, painting or photography frames, and jewelry, showcasing the artistry and craftsmanship of the region.