SAEDNEWS: We want to talk about the art of silverwork. Silver has a huge following because it is not only shiny and beautiful, but also incredibly durable—and much more affordable than gold. Stay with Saed News as we explore the fascinating world of silver craftsmanship.
Silver inlay, or naqrekubi, is one of Iran’s ancient handicrafts. In this art, silver or gold is used to decorate a variety of objects, including steel, wooden items, and more. Silver is an excellent conductor of electricity but is relatively expensive, making it impractical for electrical applications. However, it is highly effective for decorative purposes and jewelry. Silver is chemically stable, though it reacts with concentrated sulfuric acid. It is extracted from silver ore, does not oxidize in air, but reacts with hydrogen sulfide, forming silver sulfide and causing tarnish. Therefore, silver products require regular cleaning. Pure silver is shiny, soft, flexible, and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity.
Like gold, silver is too soft to be used in its pure form, so it is alloyed with other metals. For example, silver coins typically contain 90% silver and 10% copper.
Silver inlay is a traditional Iranian craft dating back centuries. In this technique, silver is hammered onto steel, wood, or other surfaces to create intricate decorations. Essentially, silver inlay is the art of hammering silver into surfaces.
Origins: The roots of silver inlay trace back to Azerbaijan and the city of Tabriz. It is considered a branch of the Persian engraving art known as ghalamzani.
Seljuk Era: During the Seljuk period, silver inlay reached its peak and was a highly recognized form of engraving. Many artists decorated their works with silver inlay.
Mongol Era: Under Mongol rule, silver inlay thrived. Artists frequently used this technique to adorn steel and weaponry, including swords, daggers, and armor.
Qajar Era: In the late Qajar period, silver inlay evolved significantly. Greater access to other alloys allowed artists to experiment more freely. Over time, they combined silver inlay with wood, creating unique hybrid works that enhanced its popularity in Tabriz. While some sources associate gilding with Khorasan, Samarkand, and Afghanistan, silver inlay remained less common in these areas. The key difference between the two techniques lies in the metals used.
Safavid Era: Silver inlay saw remarkable advancements during the Safavid period. Though some sources suggest it was more prevalent in Afghanistan, in Iran it was mainly applied to decorate weapons, armor, stirrups, knife handles, and swords. Today, it is also used in religious ceremonies, for example, to embellish pigeon figurines. Originally, gilding was applied to metals such as copper, brass, and bronze. Today, talented artists, particularly in Isfahan and Tehran, create exquisite steel pieces admired both domestically and internationally.
In East Azerbaijan, silver inlay is traditionally used to decorate tasbih (prayer beads) made from the fruit pit of avigado, colloquially called kashkool. Pure silver is carefully inserted using a piercing method. Other materials, such as boxwood, jujube, ebony, or sandalwood, can also be used.
Silver inlay has historically adorned knife handles, swords, stirrups, decorative panels, walking sticks, pipes, cigarette holders, ashtrays, lighters, and various containers. The technique is largely consistent across different objects, and the primary tool is the gold-hammering knife, a strong steel blade used to carve and prepare spaces for silver or gold.
In woodwork, after carving grooves, artisans fill them with strips of copper, brass, or silver. The practice dates back to the Safavid era but flourished during the Qajar period, when it was applied to furniture, doors, and other wooden items. Creating these pieces involves carving grooves matching the width and depth of metal strips (usually around 2 mm), then hammering the silver into place. Sanding, filing, and adhesive may be used to secure the silver.
Silver inlay generally follows five steps:
Carving grooves: Using a highly durable steel blade, shallow, precise grooves are carved onto the object. This is done with controlled forward-and-backward movements. Carvings are often applied from three different angles.
Transferring the design: Desired patterns, such as floral motifs, scrolls, or medallions, are traced onto the object using carbon paper.
Hammering silver or gold: Thin metal rods are carefully hammered into the carved grooves using specialized hammers.
Stabilization with jade: A stone called yashm is rubbed along the metal rods to ensure they are fully embedded.
Polishing and finishing: Dirt and residue are removed with acid or cleaning agents, and the final piece is sometimes lightly heated to enhance its shine.
Gilding and silver inlay share the same process—the only difference is the metal used: gold for gilding and silver for inlay.
