Crafts & Craftsmen of Iran
Many scholars detail and discuss the magnificent products of Iranian craftsmen and architects. Relatively little consideration, however, is given to the individuals who originally created, and who now maintain, the many masterpieces.
As I started to visit buildings in Iran, I started to meet Iranian craftsmen – often high up on rudimentary scaffolding; and I started also to realise how much I did not fully understand about their impressive skills and knowledge. With many master craftmen (ustads) relatively old, and relatively few young men now wanting to undergo the necessarily lengthy, often dirty, and sometimes dangerous training, these unique craft-skills are now in danger of dying out.
The images and short films here therefore try to give a glimpse into some of the crafts and master craftsmen (ustads) of Iran.