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Ghalamkar (Persian: Qalamkaar. also qalamkar, kalamkar) fabric is a type of hand-printed, patterned Iranian Fabric. The fabric is printed using patterned wooden stamps.

Textile imprimate manual cu ajutorul unor ştampile din lemn

The Iranian Ghalamkar which change hands today are the outcome of nine centuries experiences in the history of decorative textiles in Iran.

In the beginning, i.e. about 900 years ago, the Iranian artists used to paint the patterns directly on the cotton or silk fabrics and to give stability to the color, they washed the fabric in special methods. Since the production was limited and cost for these products was so high only a few consumers could afford to buy and use them. Gradually the use of wooden blocks became prevalent and by stamping the patterns the volume of production increased.Moreover by using wooden blocks the artist could use a vast variety of motives in a short time.

Utilizarea ştampilelor permite artistului să folosească o largă varietate de modele într-o perioadă de timp foarte scurtă

Traditional carved woodblock

These fabrics of ancient inspiration and full of history and handcraft traditions are prepared in weaving and spinning factories.

The fabric is cut into pieces of different lengths and transported to the river to be washed and tinted with pomegranate bark.

Once they have dried out in the sun, the colors are printed with hand carved wooden pads.

The various colors, obtained from natural material and pigments, are applied one after the other, then stabilized with boiling water and put out to dry once more in the sun.

Tablecloth, bedspread, couch spread, mural decoration, or pillow sham…

The Iranian Ghalamkar is a well known handicraft in the world market. The large demand for this product is a good proof of the fact that art patrons appreciate the Iranian block printing as a pure achievement. One of the main characteristics of the handmade Ghalamkar produced by Iranian artists is the stability and durability of colors. The finest ghalamkar may later be painted. Old and antique pieces are highly sought after. They are not cheap at all.

Hand-printed cloth can be seen everywhere in Iran. They are used as bedspreads, tablecloths, or simply for wall decoration. Wooden blocks, or models, are used to print colored patterns onto beige cotton cloth in several design steps.

Paisley or Paisley pattern is a droplet-shaped vegetable motif of Persian and Indian origin. The pattern is sometimes called "Persian pickles" by American traditionalists. In Persian the design is known as Boteh Jegheh and it has been used in Iran since the Sassanid Dynasty (AD 224 to AD 651).

Sound: Ostad Ali Naqi Vaziri – Persia

Text: InternetPictures: Internet, Sanda Foişoreanu, Nicoleta Leu, Sanda PotroviţăCopyright: All the images belong to their authors Arangement: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda