Masuleh bidding farewell to beautiful handicrafts
Masuleh, once a living museum of architecture and cultural anthropology, is gradually losing its different types of handicrafts, having turned into a market for Chinese goods.
Located 36 kilometers southwest of Fuman in Gilan Province, Masuleh is a living museum of architecture and cultural anthropology, with its beautiful houses hugging the cliffs, rising vertically upward, with rooftops and village streets virtually indistinguishable.
Masuleh, founded during the era prior to the advent of Islam, has grown over time from a village into a city.
Different types of handicrafts such as chamush (footwear), carpentry, glass blowing, and knife and gun making, once widespread in the region, have been facing a decline over the past years.
They say visitors used to travel to the city for its handicrafts. The city used to wake up with the sweet smells of traditional cookies, and hear the sound of the blacksmiths beating their hammers throughout the day.
But now there is no sign of these activities across the city while the workshops are filled with Chinese goods.
“Famous handicrafts of the city are now sinking into oblivion and the only ones remaining now are being produced by old veterans,” Secretary of the Masuleh Conservation and Sustainable Development Institute Sadeq Salehi told the Persian service of CHN.
“The institute is the only active NGO in the field of handicrafts in Gilan Province, but it needs the support of officials in charge of handicrafts,” he said.
Young generations were asked to return to their hometown to continue producing traditional handicrafts, but they could not due to lack of facilities such as housing and workshops, he remarked.
The city is losing its veterans one by one. Carpentry was famous in the city. Beautiful doors and windows unique to the city of high quality were made by master craftsmen. But now, there is only one carpenter remaining in the city.
Making chamush (footwear) was one of the old handicrafts of the region. There used to be a big market filled with these shops making and selling chamush.
But now, there is only one young master Majid Farnia who is still works on making chamush.
“When I began to learn this handicraft from my grandfather, there were three or four other masters, but they are all gone now. Nobody else is still alive.”
Chamush are different from other types of shoes. They are made from cow’s leather, without the use of nails or glue. Instead, thread and bee’s wax are used.
Making a pair of chamush takes from one to three weeks. Chamush for women differ in their embroidery and pattern designs from those for men.
“This handicraft is also gradually fading. Visitors only purchase chamush for their children, they believe the adult size is too expensive,” Farnia said.
There are no special programs to support these venerable handicrafts. As a result, the city’s craftsmen are gradually being forced to convert their shops into venues for selling imported Chinese goods.
Photo: Two women sell handicrafts in the city of Masuleh on March 23, 2005. (Mehr/Babak Borzoyeh)
Source: tehrantimes.com
