Introduction to the Handicrafts of Torbat Jam County!

Some of the human-made crafts that are created according to specific criteria are called handicrafts, and a person needs a lot of experience and skill to make such tools. The first handicrafts were made during the time humans settled in one place, by people who faced a shortage of tools and basic materials. They used their minds to create the necessary items for themselves. With the advancement of technology and the expansion of cities and villages, handicrafts also began to progress and their variety increased.

Introduction to the Handicrafts of Torbat Jam

One of the earliest materials humans used to make tools and meet their needs was clay. Consequently, they invented the potter’s wheel and made extensive use of it. Even today, the art of pottery exists in various cities and among many people.

In human history, Iran has been one of the brightest countries in the creation of handicrafts and still is. The diverse climates of this country have contributed to a greater variety of handicrafts. Among these, Torbat Jam County is also considered one of the cities whose diverse handicrafts have attracted admirers from all over Iran and the world. The traditional and handicraft arts of Torbat Jam include the following:

• Marquetry (Inlay work)

• Fert weaving

• Decorative and traditional embroidery

• Kilim weaving

• Making traditional musical instruments

• Pottery

• Karbas weaving

• Jowal weaving

Marquetry (Inlay work)
The creation of detailed patterns on wood with complete precision is the main characteristic of marquetry. This is one of the oldest arts among Iranians and still many people, thanks to this art and their creativity, make unique panels. This art continues to gain antiquity over time.
Many marquetry panels are made by women living in the Torbat Jam guest city, which shows their talent, taste, and dedication in crafting such delicate works.

Fert Weaving
Fert is a handwoven fabric made from cotton thread. Fert weaving in Torbat Jam has a history of several hundred years and is considered a home-based occupation, especially for women, providing them with employment.
Fert weaving can be regarded as a combination of kilim weaving and textile arts. One of the important villages of Torbat Jam, which has shined in this art for a long time, is the beautiful village of Bozd. It is known as one of the main production centers for fert woven products, with the art of fert weaving in Bozd dating back about 150 years. Unfortunately, this art is gradually fading in Torbat Jam, especially in Bozd, due to the high cost of raw materials, low income, and the labor-intensive nature of the work.

Decorative and Traditional Embroidery
Decorative and traditional embroidery is also known as "Roodoozi" or needlework. It refers to the art where the artist, using special techniques and stitches, decorates plain or patterned fabrics. This requires a lot of precision and skill and is offered at reasonable prices. Torbat Jam is not devoid of this art, and local artists, with their talent, taste, and high skills, have created employment opportunities through this craft.

Kilim Weaving
Kilim is a type of flat-woven rug, with warp and weft mostly made from wool, cotton, and sometimes goat hair. The weaving technique involves alternating the threads going over and under each other. The history of kilim weaving dates back to early human history, about six thousand years BC, showing the spinning and transforming of fibers into threads.
The earliest signs of fabric in Iran date back about four thousand years BC. In Torbat Jam, this art has long existed among the people, especially in the border regions of the city such as Salehabad and its villages like Yekeh Tut and Kalateh Bozorg Dam Hemmatabad, where kilim weaving has been practiced.

Making Traditional Musical Instruments
One of the traditional instruments is the Dotar, which is among the most important and ancient Iranian musical instruments, with a history spanning several thousand years. It has been passed down through generations and continues to be played, attracting many enthusiasts. This instrument is made by artists in Torbat Jam. As mentioned before, if the instrument maker is highly skilled, they can produce one within a week for the musician or customer. This art is also a means of employment and income generation.

Pottery
As mentioned, humans used clay to meet their needs, and clay was the primary material for making various pottery items. Over time, with the growth of cities and villages, pottery art evolved and progressed. Unfortunately, today this art is somewhat neglected and fading. In the Khorasan region, Torbat Jam is one of the cities that have always utilized this art and benefited from it as a source of income.

Karbas Weaving
Karbas refers to a white cotton fabric. Karbas weaving is one of the oldest weaving techniques in the textile industry. The history of weaving in Iran dates back to the Neolithic era. Excavations in a cave near the Caspian Sea have uncovered woven fabric pieces made from sheep wool and goat hair dating back to around 6500 BC.

Jowal Weaving
Jowal is a larger type of pack saddlebag, usually about 70 cm², used for carrying loads on horses and donkeys, and its larger size is used for camels. Jowal is always woven in pairs like the smaller "Khorjin" bags, but the two sides are not necessarily connected and often separate. The Lur and Bakhtiari tribes weave Jowal with a kilim lining.

Today, many traditional handicrafts are being forgotten. It is our duty to strive to preserve and maintain these national identities.