History of Paper in Iran, 1501–1925

Amélie Courvat Desvergnes, Willem Floor

Description

The Chinese invented papermaking, which by the 8th century had reached the Muslim world in Samarkand and Baghdad, and Spain by the 11th century. Much later at the end of the 18th century onwards, modern, industrial papermaking was developed by the Europeans. The History of Paper in Iran, 1501 to 1925 sets out for the reader the types of paper made in Iran during the Safavid and Qajar periods and the crucial role imported paper played in the country.

The Iranian government attempted to introduce modern European paper production technology, first by sending students abroad to learn about this technology and then by purchasing equipment to set up a paper industry. However, during the 19th century, domestic Iranian paper production came under increasing pressure from paper imports, and the government abandoned its efforts to modernize the domestic paper industry.

The authors, renowned scholar Willem Floor in collaboration with Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes a museum conservator of artworks on paper and books, identify and illustrate the watermarks and/or countermarks of the various paper producers and provide examples of the diversity of quality, composition, and nature of the different types of paper used by various strata of the Iranian society. Also provided are detailed import data, showing which country exported paper to Iran, via which routes, as well as their changing market position over time. Finally, the various end uses of paper, from books and farmans to paintings, and diverse packing and utilitarian paper are examined and, where possible, quantified data are presented. This book will reward scholars and general readers alike.

Sujets

• Middle Est
• HISTORY
• Histoire
• Irán
• General officer
• Middle East
• General
• Iran

Informations

• Publié par: Mage Publishers Inc.
• Date de parution: 04 octobre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781949445664
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 56 Mo

Extrait

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HîTOy Of PAPER IN IRAN 1501–1925

WîLLéM FLOO & AMÉLîé COuvà DéSvéGéS

l mage publishers

copyright © 2022 mage publishers

Cover image used by permission, courtesy of The David Collection, Copenhagen: A scribe on a terrace, painted by Mohammad Rezaye Hindi, circa 1755, opaque watercolor on paper, inv.no.15/2002. © The David Collection, Copenhagen. Photo: Pernille Klemp.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or retransmitted in any manner whatsoever, except in the form of a review, without the written permission of the publisher.

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Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data Available at the Library of Congress

First hardcover edition ISBN: 9781949445428

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CONTENTS

TABLES                vii

LIST OF FIGURES & CREDITS         ix

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS           xix

INTRODUCTION             xxi

& IMPORTS  PAPER PRODUCTION       1

Where was paper produced?          1 The production process           3 What kind of paper was produced domestically?     14 Who were the paper users?           34 The response to the growing import of paper      50 The Belgian survey on the establishment of a paper factory  64 A search for sufficient raw materials        65 The possible machinery           69 The search for a suitable production site       70 Paper imports              73 The import of regional paper          74 The import of European and Russian paper      84 Types and prices of imported paper        102 Writing paper or        kaghaz-e tahriri 103 Official documents             103 Prices of writing paper on the market        119 Blotting paper orkaghaz-e neshaf         123

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School writing paper orkaghaz-e mashq        124 Printing paper or        kaghaz-e kahi 125 Drawing paper orkaghaz-e naqsheh         127 Papercut               142 Fingernail art orkhatt-e nakhuni          146 Pasteboard ormoqavva           149 Envelopes orpaket             154 Luxury and fancy paper orkaghaz-e tazyini    160  Packaging or wrapping paper orkaghaz-e `attari      167 Wall paper orkaghaz-e divari          175 Miscellaneous use of paper          180 Fanus or paper lantern          180 Windowpaper             181 Cigarette paper             183 Amusement             183 Festivities              184 Discussion               185

Appendix                188

Rapport sur La Fabrication du Papier en Perse    189 Des matières premières         190 Des chiffons            191 Collage du papier           204 Prix du papier à Téhéran         206 Papiers pour la décoration, livres, etc      207 Papiers d’emballages          207 Papiers spéciaux à écrire et à dessiner      208 Excursion à Charriar          210 Excursion au Djargerud         216 Papier consommation          218 Principaux marchands de Paper à Téhéran (en gros et en détail)          220

Bibliography               221

Index               235 

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TABLES

Table 1: Color of the paper offarmans during the Qajar era (in %%) 25         

Table 2: Color of the paper ofraqams during the Qajar era (in %%)           25

Table 3: Import of paper at Tabriz (1845-1899)     91

Table 4: Import of stationary in Bushehr and Lengeh 1873-1899 (in Rs) 94       

Table 6: Import of paper from 1903-04 to 1908-09   98 

Table 7: The import of paper in 1914 (in qrans) 99   

Table 8: Customs duties of various kinds of paper (1913- perbatman) 99        

Table 9: Imports into Bushehr during the years 1922-24 (value in pounds sterling)        100

Table 10: Imports of paper by country of origin 1917-23 (inpuds)   101      

Table 11: Marks found on royal decrees (farman) and orders (raqam) 1779-1925 104       

Table 12: Retail prices of Russian paper in Rasht (1891)   122

Table 13: Cost of school writing paper       124

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Table 14: Prices of the different kinds of envelopes made from ‘Turkish’ paper       158 

Table 15: Prices of the different kinds of envelopes made from Russian paper 158          

Table 16: Prices of Austrian envelopes in 1892 158   

Table 17: Prices and sizes of drawing, bookbinding, fancy paper            165

Table 18: Prices and sizes of packaging papers in 1892    175

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LIST OF FIGURES & CREDITS

Fig 1 The itinerant Rag-and-Bone Man Mirza Kazem, signed by th Abu’l-Hasan, 19 century © “Private European Collection, Chiswick Auctions” lot 172 sale Islamic Art - Property of a European Collector Part II, Chiswick Auctions, Friday 29 th October 2021

Fig 2 The Courtly Bookbinder Mullah Mohammad Taqi, signed by th Abu’l-Hasan, 19 century© “Private European Collection, Chiswick Auctions” Lot 172 sale Islamic Art – Property of a European Collector Part II, Chiswick Auctions, Friday 29 October 2021

Fig 3Farmanwith thetoghraand signature of Naser al-Din Shah, presumably for obtaining arrears of debt, circa 1312/ 1894-95 © Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen, TM-5631-6

Fig 4 The whole sheet with transmitted light Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen, TM-5631-6, credit: Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes

Fig 5 Detail of the paper with transmitted light, coarse paper with many lumps and îbers, uneven look-through, impurities. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen, TM-5631-6, credit: Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes

Fig6 Bifolio of the copy of theDivan-e qasa’ed va tarkibatby Soltani Hoseyn Qolikhan of Kermanshah (1834-98) Or 27 699 Leiden University Library Credit: Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes

Fig7 Detail of the paper with transmitted light, wove paper with blue, red and purple îbers copy of theDivan-e qasa’ed va tarkibatby Soltani Hoseyn Qolikhan of Kermanshah (1834-98)

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Or 27 699 Leiden University Library, Special Collections Credit: Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes

Fig 8Farmanwith the seal of Naser al-Din Shah Blue machine made paper probably manufactured in Russia OR 14 697 Leiden University Library, Special Collections Credit: Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes

Fig9 A Qajarfarmanfrom the reign of Fath ‘Ali Shah, 1240/1824 Six lines of Blacknasta`liq, within gold, red and green borders, gold oral panels, all below a large illuminated panel, 43.5 x 32cm.© 2004 Christie’s Images Limited

Fig 10 Sixteen handwritten folios on Russian blue paper, descriptions of the Persian towns of Ardabil, Shirvan, Tabriz, Khurasan, date 1256/1840 Or 8333, Leiden University Library, Special Collections Credit: Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes

Fig. 11 Detail of the countermark фKHг. Or. 8333, Leiden University Library, Special Collections Credit: Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes Fig 12 Detail of the watermark featuring a bear holding an axe in a shield Or 8333, Leiden University Library, Special Collections Credit: Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes Fig 13 Check for the sum of 1000qransfrom the Imperial Bank of Persia dated Tehran, 5 November 1890 received from FM Knobel. Archieînventaris 2.05.10.11 Inventarisnummer 2, jaar 1890. Nationaal Archief, den Haag Credit: Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes

Fig. 14 Letter from Shah Saî and dated 27th October 1631. Archieînventaris: 12595.8. Nationaal Archief, den Haag. Credit: Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes

Fig 15 Contract drawn up according to the old customary law at a religious court, for the rent of a house (sixdangs) dated 1336/1918 in an elevated area of a city’s bazaar © Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen TM-3944-1

th Fig 16 Steel paper scissors with bronze grip, L 24 cm, 19 century © Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen, TM-413-127

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