Expressive Method of Creating Pottery in Kalpoorgan

Wandering around the Iranian villages, we find a rich craft tradition and a high degree of technical excellence in the field of pottery, sculpture, jewelry, weaving etc.  Kalpoorgan village is one of that fascinating villages where is located in Sistan and Baloochestan province in southeast of Iran has recently nominated as the first handicraft village in the world. What attracts the attention of the world to the Kalpoorgan pottery is the making of pottery without use of a pottery wheel, so that all the pottery is done with traditional, primitive methods by Baloch women. The abstract roles and motifs have been inspired from ancient paints and are completely geometric reminiscent of historic art of that area. The warm harmony between the reddish shade of the potteries and the brown motifs make these crafts more and more eye catching. These pinched potteries with their amazing patterns and has been transmitted to the next generations without any change in the way they are made. Local artists have still kept the simple yet expressive method of creating these pieces of art. 

Pottery museum in Kalpoorgan,Sistanbaloochestan,Iran

Kalpoorgan:Heart of Iranaian Pottery

Wandering around the Iranian villages, we find a rich craft tradition and a high degree of technical excellence in the field of pottery, sculpture, jewelry, weaving etc.  Kalpoorgan village, one of that fascinating villages, located in Sistan and Baloochestan province in southeast of Iran has recently nominated as the first handicraft village in the world. What attracts the attention of the world to the Kalpoorgan pottery is the making of pottery without use of a pottery wheel, so that all the pottery is done with traditional, primitive methods by Baloch women. The abstract roles and motifs have been inspired from ancient paints and are completely geometric reminiscent of historic art of that area. The warm harmony between the reddish shade of the potteries and the brown motifs make these crafts more and more eye catching. These potteries with their amazing patterns has been transmitted to the next generations without any change in the way they are made. Local artists have still kept the simple yet expressive method of creating these pieces of art. 

Pottery museum in Kalpoorgan,Sistanbaloochestan,Iran

The Iranian cypresses.

Cypress is a beautiful and evergreen tree which is grown widely in Iran and it is known as the symbol of strength and freedom in Iranian myths and literature. Cypress trees are seen among the reliefs of the Apadana palace of Persepolis, showing the beliefs and customs of the ancient Iranians. The Persian painters have painted cypress trees in their miniatures and the carpet weavers have weaved this historical motif on their carpets. It is said that the famous Iranian motif “Boteh jeghe” (paisley), which is seen on the Termeh and Pateh textiles, is the changed form of Iranian cypress.

                    

                 Cypress trees on a Persian rug.                         The cypress tree in Persepolis.

Most of the great Persian poets like Hafiz, Molana and Khayam have wisely used the word cypress as a metaphor in their verses to describe the beauty of their beloved. In the Persian gardens, cypress trees have been planted around the gardens for specifying the area of the garden. The cypress trees in Shiraz, known as the city of historical gardens, are so famous because of being soaring and lofty and they are called Sarv- e Naz (the charming cypress).