SAEDNEWS: Pyrography, or “wood burning,” began over 3,000 years ago in ancient Greece and later spread worldwide, decorating objects from musical instruments to kitchenware. Discover the art behind the craft.
Pyrography, also known as woodburning, is the art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks created by the controlled application of a heated tool, such as a poker, metal rod, or wire. It is also referred to as pokerwork or burned wood art.
Woodburning is a centuries-old art form, historically practiced in various styles across different eras. This craft can be performed using modern pyrography tools, a metal structure heated in fire, or even sunlight concentrated through a magnifying glass.
Technique
Traditionally, pyrography involves heating a metal object until red-hot and pressing it onto wood. The metal can be shaped to create specific patterns, similar to how a stamp imprints a design (for example, a brass stamp used by musical instrument makers).
This art allows for a wide spectrum of colors and shades. Variations in the tip used, temperature, and the way heat is applied all produce different effects. Once the design is burned, wooden objects are often finished with color.
Hard, light-colored woods such as sycamore, basswood, beech, and poplar are preferred because their fine grains are not overly dense. However, other woods like maple, pine, and oak are also used.
Pyrography is also applied to leather, enabling bold designs and subtle shading. Vegetable-tanned leather is preferred, as modern chemical tanning leaves residues that can be toxic when burned. Light-colored leather offers good contrast. Additionally, craftsmen often use pyrography on dried gourds, burning designs into the outer shell.
History of Pyrography
The exact origins of pyrography are unclear. Some believe it dates back to the dawn of recorded history, practiced by cultures such as the Egyptians and various African tribes. Robert Boyer, a pyrographer, suggests it may even extend to prehistoric times, when early humans created designs using charred remnants of fire.
The oldest known wooden artifact comes from the archaeological site of Shahr-e Sukhteh in Zabol: a wooden comb dating back to the 5th millennium BCE. Experts believe the designs on it are distinctly Iranian.
During the Achaemenid era, wood was a common material in construction, including in the palaces of Susa and Apadana, where Iranian oak and Lebanese cedar were used. Before the widespread use of iron in architecture, Persepolis had extensive wooden structures, many of which were destroyed by fire. Between the fall of the Safavid dynasty and the Qajar period, the art of pyrography declined.
In the early Seljuk period, pyrography was primarily practiced on leather, often used for book covers, including Qur’ans. By the late Seljuk and early Timurid periods, the technique expanded to wooden objects, especially bases for wooden sculptures. In Iran, pyrography reached its peak during the Safavid era, but due to the difficulty of working on wood, the art gradually declined.
In China, pyrography was recognized as early as the Han dynasty, known as "needle embroidery with fire." During the Victorian era, the invention of pyrography machines sparked widespread interest in handicrafts. The term "pyrography" became common, replacing the earlier "pokerwork." By the late 19th century, innovations allowed water-based paints to be applied hot with benzoline vapor through heated platinum pencils, enabling shading that was previously impossible.
In the early 20th century, electric pyrography pens simplified the craft, making pyrography on glove boxes and other objects popular. Today, pyrography remains a traditional art form in Europe, including Romania, Poland, Hungary, and in South America.
In Iran, modern pyrography using electric pens has a history of less than 20 years.
Tools for Pyrography
Pyrography is accessible and relatively inexpensive. It can be practiced in a home workshop or a professional woodworking shop. Essential tools include:
Pyrography Pen (Electric or Element-Based): Heats a tip to burn designs into wood.
Sandpaper: For preparing smooth wood surfaces. Begin with coarse grit and gradually use finer grits (e.g., 120 → 400 → 800).
Wood, Leather, Cardboard, or Paper: Light-colored woods burn more visibly; maple, pear, orange, white walnut, and poplar are ideal. Veneers are a cost-effective alternative for practice.
Leather Pyrography involves darkening leather to create contrast, sometimes combining traditional leather embellishments.
Additional Equipment:
Lichtenberg Machine: Uses high-voltage electricity to create tree-like or lightning patterns on wood.
Carbon Paper: Transfers designs to the work surface. Yellow carbon is preferred for subtle lines; black carbon is used for complex designs. Avoid blue carbon.
Technique and Best Practices
Precision is crucial. The smallest distraction can ruin a piece. Pyrography primarily uses brown and golden hues, and creating contrast determines the beauty of the work.
Keep fingers away from the hot tip, but close enough for control.
Use light, quick strokes for fine, shaded lines; slow strokes produce darker lines.
Control tip angle to vary line width.
Practice on scrap wood before beginning the final piece.
Use protective layers (sealers or varnish) after burning for durability.
Employ proper ventilation or a carbon-filtered exhaust to remove smoke.
Modern pyrography can even be performed with lasers and offers potential for home-based income.
Steps to Pyrography
Prepare the wood surface: Sand progressively and polish with natural leather.
Stabilize large pieces using a 50/50 sealer and thinner mixture as a protective base.
Transfer the design using carbon paper, lightly marking soft wood to avoid indentations.
Conduct practice burns to gauge heat settings.
Execute the design carefully, adjusting strokes, tip angle, and temperature for depth and shading.
Finish with a protective coating; optional coloring enhances the final effect.
Pyrography is a precise, patient, and rewarding art form, blending tradition, creativity, and modern innovation.
