Toreutics is an Iranian field of art which is considered as handicrafts and artistic metalworking. The art grew over time into what is now practiced mostly in historical, art-friendly cities like Isfahan. Toreutics is one of the many things that attract visitors to such cities.
It has assimilated subject matters from centuries of Iranian art, philosophy, and history into harmonious depictions of man, nature, and abstract notions.There is no clear history on its background; however, according to some archaeologists and art historians it dates back to period of Scythians or Sakas who were of nomadic Iranians living in pre-Achaemenid era.
Toreutics is the art of hammering patterns and pictures onto surfaces of gold, silver, copper, brass. copper is more popular in this artistic metalworking due to its softness and flexibility. The art of toreutics or engraving on metals with burins has drawn the artists’ attention mainly due to considerable lifespan and persistence of the products comparing to other objects or materials.
the artists first cover one side of the surface they intend to put the picture on with a solution of tar or plaster to quieten the hammering down. It also helps them avoid piercing the thin metal. Then, they draw the pattern on the dish and after choosing the proper burin they place it on the pattern and start to hammer the end of burin to form the desired grooves and patters on the dish with changing the intensity of hammer hits. Motifs and symbols used in the patterns of toreutics have always varied based on ideological and cultural changes throughout the various historic and cultural periods, and have been influenced by the social conditions and have had their own particular historical evolution. Researchers believe the art started in Shiraz.
But now there are different styles of toreutics in Shiraz, Esfahan,Tabriz, Boroujerd, Tabas, and other Iranian cities. , there are two major styles in Iranian toreutics: Isfahan Style and Tabriz Style. In Tabriz Style, motion and pressure of the wrist is used for engraving, and in Isfahan Style it is done with hammering hits. Therefore, burin of Tabriz is flat and shallow while the burin of Isfahan is deeper.