Ways to distinguish genuine handicrafts from counterfeits
Crafts, either functional or decorative. Applied handicrafts should be strong and hygienically prepared, and because this part of handicrafts is used in people’s daily lives, it is important. Traditional and indigenous features, originality, creativity and innovation should be prominent in decorative handicrafts. Some handicrafts, such as jewelry, are decorative and functional. Make sure that the decorations in this type of handicraft do not distort its functionality. For example, a ring does not press on the hand and is not annoying. Also no waste. In fact, the use of a handicraft should not be sacrificed for decoration, and its functional characteristics should be standard. A good handicraft has natural materials and the manufacturing process is non-industrial. Tools and equipment should be light in the construction process and cultural and national components should be visible.
When buying a handicraft product, ask the seller or manufacturer to explain the production process. Also ask how to maintain and wash the product. Make sure the product is sealed. If the manufacturer gives you a handicraft in a plastic bag, this is a negative, so be careful not to give the customer a native art in a bag that is not environmentally friendly.
The better the raw materials used in the production of handicrafts, the more expensive the product. This can be seen in the quality of the construction, production and materials used. For example, to buy a glass cup, pay attention to the placement of the handle and the placement of the hand, its weight, lightness and stagnation.
To ensure that natural dyeing is used in the production of a product such as clothing, a wet towel can be applied to it. If the color returns, the natural color is not used for dyeing. Also, natural dyes are cooked and muted compared to chemicals and do not lose their stability over time and sunlight, but chemical dyes are brighter and more colorful than natural ones.
Also, to find out if natural fibers are used in a garment, you can pull one of the threads out of the fabric so that the product is not damaged and set it on fire. If the fiber shrinks like plastic after burning, the fibers are not natural, and if it is softened to ash, it has natural fibers.
To distinguish the original metal enamel, which is one of the handicrafts of Isfahan province from Chinese enamel, you must take the lighter on the color of the dish. If the paint collects and burns, it is not the original effect. Because metal enamel forms with high heat, it has a high resistance to fire. It is not bad to know that because of Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar’s interest in this art, the hookahs of the court were decorated with it. The most important part of this art is the kiln, which is formed with heat at a temperature of 850 to 950 degrees.
On the other hand, you can scratch the surface of enamel dishes with a pointing device. If the line falls, this is not the original container. Certainly the seller who does not have the original material does not allow the buyer to do so, so this reaction is the best way to distinguish an original work from a counterfeit!
Enameling was considered a court art and was associated with alchemy. This is one of the reasons why this art is unknown because only courtiers used this art and ordinary people did not know much about it. The Achaemenid kingdom was also the art of pottery, but now its enamel art has been poured and only its metal body remains. Many of the jewels kept in the jewelry museum are decorated with the art of pottery.
We all know that turquoise is one of the souvenirs and handicrafts of Khorasan region. In most shops in Mashhad, the color spectrum of green and blue can be seen in turquoise stones, but turquoise is best if it has fewer streaks. On the other hand, the closer the color of the turquoise stone is to the three colors you see in the photo below, the better it is definitely and the higher the price.
Turquoise stone has high properties and sensitivity, so in order to maintain its properties and not die, this stone should be placed in a container of water every night for three months to be revived, because turquoise stone needs to be revived, and if fat is eaten, it dies and loses its properties. Loses.
With the variety of mats that exist in Iran, it is difficult to distinguish domestically produced mats from Chinese, Thai or imported mats, but to ensure the purchase of mats produced in Iran, one should look at the production workshops in this field. Some Iranian artists have acquired the ability to produce a variety of functional mats by taking mat weaving courses. Usually, some handicraft production workshops, such as mat weaving, operate in different provinces during Nowruz. It is better to go to these workshops to buy the original material and see how it is produced up close.
Painting behind glass on functional utensils also heats up at different temperatures. Containers made at high temperatures usually have more color stability. To distinguish a painting on heated glass from a painting on glass alone, the surface can be scratched with a pointing device. If the painted surface is not scratched on the surface of the glass, the product has more color stability and is made at a higher temperature, but baking these dishes at high temperatures will also increase its price.
It may be difficult for the general public to identify kilim and jajim. The kilim is a poodle, meaning that the wefts are seen in it and the wefts are not clear, but in Jajim the wefts are patterned and woven with different colors. Jajim is usually the way. The carpet, which is woven, does not have a clear fabric or thread, but a knot can be seen. Of course, we also have art as a kilim carpet, which is made by combining both (kilim and carpet).
Of course, Pouya Mahmoudian, the country’s deputy for handicrafts, said: The diagnosis depends on the customs’s assessment, but we have agreed to strengthen the capabilities of customs assessors so that we can help them whenever they feel they need our expertise. Naturally, when the official ways of importing foreign goods into the country are limited, an attempt is made to smuggle goods, for which arrangements have been made. The smuggling patrols, which have been launched since 2016, will work more seriously, and from now on, forces from the General Directorate of Handicrafts will also be present in these patrols.
