The fine arts and craftsmen of Iran

Isfahan is the art and craft center of Iran as it was in the days of Shah Abbas when her people boasted Isfahan is half the world. Much of the imperial splendor survives and in the bazaar the ancient crafts like coppersmithing continue little changed. Modern machinery has come to Iran but it still is far less difficult to hire a skilled hand craftsman by the day than to find capital to buy an imported machine to do his job. The hands of Isfahan craftsmen turn with special skill to the creation of fine articles of silver. Machinery will never be able to replace artist craftsmen like these silversmiths. Their skill is not easily acquired. For 50 years these hands have guided tiny chisels none over a tenth the size of