WORLD CRAFTS COUNCIL
(WCC AISBL) INTERNATIONAL
Abadeh (Iran)
There are various fields of handicrafts in Abadeh, the most notable one of which is wood carving. It can be said that the origin of woodcarving in Iran and the world is Abadeh, and this art has been driven from the county to other parts of the country and even to the world.It should also be noted that the certificate of registration of the national geographic indications, the WIPO international certificate and the Intangible Cultural Heritage certificate have been received for the wood carving of Abadeh. Carpet and rug weaving are among the arts that their design and pattern are knitted by Abadeh and nomad women.
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Also the original giveh of Abadeh which is known as‘Shiveh giveh’ has tremendous therapeutic properties as well as other handicrafts are asource of income for families living in this county and paying attention and support tothem can have a great impact on employment (it should be mentioned that at present,the county artists are active in 16 fields of handicrafts including joint embroidery,mosaic, lattice, sculpture, traditional musical instruments, leather, traditional jewelry,stone artifacts, and woodcarving)
It goes without saying that carving on wood in different forms has been prevalent from previous centuries and that it has been done in the world and in Iran in different styles. So in general we can say that what is known today as traditional wood carving of Iran and Abadeh is a technique of carving that is completely unique to Abadeh in terms of elegance and rejection of imitating, using innovation and thought in design and plan, using the simplest tools, and special production method which was developed elsewhere. It is also worth noting that the history of wood carving in Abadeh is estimated to be around 600 years old. The main specialized tool used in traditional wood carving of Abadeh is the knife made of carbon steel which is originally flat and its tip is grinded like a calligraphy pencil. It is worth mentioning that using this knife is unique to Abadeh style, perhaps in other carving styles (traditional and steel) in other parts of the country, other big and small chisels with different shapes are used.
The History of Woodcarving
To confirm the history of carving in Abadeh, one can refer to the text of some travelogues, references and articles written about arts and crafts of Iran including Masterpieces of Iranian Art written by Arthur Pop, The Traditional Crafts of Persia written by Hans E. Wulff, and An Overview of Iran Handicrafts written by M. Hasanbeigi. Works in the Iranian and world museums such as the Museum of Anthropology of the Golestan Palace, the Louvre Paris Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum of London also confirm it. The crafts produced
today in the county also represent the continuation of previous traditions.Considering the fact that Abadeh wood carving has been native to Fars Province and its longstanding reputation, in addition to the cultural and artistic aspect of preservation and continuation of the traditions of this field, one can promote economic activity in this field by building employment platforms. By creating a secure margin of moral and material support for professional and amateur activists, a new perspective on the social fabric of the community can be drawn so that the young people of the region, based on their inheritance and tradition, take steps to maintain and enhance this traditional art.