Mashhad and Lalejin, global cities of gems and pottery

Recently, Mashhad and Lalejin were respectively chosen as the global cities of gems and pottery by the World Crafts Council.

The important fact in relation to selection of these global cities is that other than Mashhad and Lalejin, concurrently other cities from India, China, Lebanon, Chile, Jordan, and Palestine had been nominated and referred to World Crafts Council. In this manner, Iran, upon accommodating four global cities, is home to the highest number of global cities, after China. Previously, the Iranian cities of Isfahan and Tabriz were respectively registered as global cities of handicrafts and carpets by UNESCO.

As of ancient times, gems have been the symbols of wealth and eminence. Usage of ornaments such as pearls, and beautiful and colorful gems by women, in addition to the magical and medical usages which were attributed to these ornaments, was considered to be praiseworthy.

Usage of ornaments and gems dates back to 7,000 years ago. In ancient times, prior to mankind honing his skills in stone cutting, gems maintained magical aspects and were at times used as magical spells by their owners.

Today, jewels are considered as a long-term investment and a financial backbone. On the other hand, gemology has attained a scientific aspect and production of ornaments has become a course of art.

Jewels maintain an age-old history in Iran. In ancient Iran, jewels, in addition to their beauty, were used as magical spells and for removal of scourges. Jewels also signified the social status of individuals and the originality of their families and associates. Up to now, two hundred regions with gem reserves have been identified in Iran and experts believe that development of the stone-cutting industry can create innumerable jobs. Many gem mines are situated in Khorasan, Isfahan, East Azarbaijan, Hamedan, and Zanjan, and Iran is ranked among the world’s top ten countries in regard to gem reserves and quality of its gems. For instance, the city of Nayshapour’s turquoise stones have been named as the best turquoise stones in the world by the American Gemology Institute.

Gem trade has turned into a lucrative and profitable business in the world such that it’s circulating capital stands at roughly $60b per annum. There are several types of precious and semi-precious gems in the world; more than half of which are present in Iran.

Currently, Iran’s main non-oil exports are handicrafts, carpets, turquoise stones and gems. For a number of years, Iran’s Handicrafts Organization has held workshops in different sites, in order to further improve the gemstone cutting industry.  

A complete chain of gems exists in Khorasan Razavi Province which has played a role in selection of Mashhad as the global city of gems. In this city, 16,000 people are engaged in gem industry. The presence of large centers, such as Bazar Reza, in Mashhad, as a hub for sales of gems in that city, had shaped a unique capacity in this city for gem trade.

A festivity is to be convened in Mashhad, to mark and celebrate selection of this city as the global city of gems.

In the Iranian solar calendar year of 1394 (March 2015-2016) Khorasan Razavi’s gem exports stood at over $54,000.

Another city which has been registered as a global city by the World Crafts Council is Lalejin. This town is situated in Hamedan Province and is known as a pottery hub in Middle East. In fact, 80% of the residents of this city are engaged in pottery; production of ceramic items, and related occupations such as painting of ceramic items, and packaging, purchasing, and selling ceramic products.

Roughly a thousand pottery workshops operate in this city and the items made by artists are exported to other Iranian cities and many other countries. In this city, a diverse range of ceramic items are produced.

The ceramic items produced in this city are globally well-known and are exported to more than twenty countries across the globe. The residents of this city have been engaged in production of ceramic items for the past 700 years, and Lalejin maintains a very high capacity in production of ceramic items in different designs.

Based on latest figures, 200 small and large shops, rendering ceramic items, are active in Lalejin. The mayor of this city has reported on the construction of a pottery village in this city, noting that the site of this village has been located in the city map and a plot of land covering fifty hectares is considered for construction of traditional workshops.

Towns chosen as global cities should progress and advance based on the criteria and conditions of global cities; and should take part in commercial and economic events; develop the cultural and educational atmosphere for artists and craftsmen; boost the economic welfare of artists and craftsmen; expand urban and rural infrastructures; and disseminate information such as publication of books and brochures in international languages.

The global cities of handicrafts in fact maintain a higher capacity for absorption of tourists. The other advantages of selection of these towns as global cities include the visit of commercial delegations to these cities, expansion of these cities’ handicraft exports; as well as introduction of the art, industry, and capacities of these cities.

MR/ME