Hasir-Bafi: Ancient Persian handicraft

Basketry or Hasir-Bafi in Persian is one of the oldest fields of handicrafts on the Iranian plateau.

It is not known when and where this craft was first invented. Archaeological evidence has found traces of mat weavings on plaster pieces that belong to six thousand years ago.

The oldest piece of Hasir in Iran belongs to the Shahdad region of Kerman Province.  

Tools for Hasir-Bafi are very simple and limited, including sickle, file, scissors, needle, and stitching awl.

This art-craft is common in the Iranian provinces of Sistan-Baluchestan, Khuzestan, Kordestan, Hormozgan, Bushehr, Kerman, Yazd, Fars, Mazandaran, Gilan and Tehran.

The materials used to weave Hasir are natural such as young twigs from trees and shrubs like willow, plant roots, grape or honeysuckle vines, or grasses.

To practice the craft, the first step is to pick stems that match each other in size and diameter to be soaked in water.

Then, three to five of them are packed together by another stem. These bundles are woven together to make objects such as baskets, bags, floor covers, wall hang, etc.

More Persian handicrafts:

Rashti-Duzi

Korgi-Bafi

Haft-Rang tiles

Varni-Bafi

Papier-mache and lacquer work

Kapu weaving of Khuzestan

Pan-Bafi

Kiseh-Bafi

Darayi-Bafi

Aba-Bafi

Khorjin-Bafi

Chigh-Bafi

Sermeh-Douzi

Ihrami weaving

Gereh Chini

Varsho-Sazi

Shawl-Bafi

South Khorasan carpets

Qalamzani

Boroujerd nickel silverware

Monjugh-Duzi

Kalamkari

Pateh-Duzi

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