Khatam

thumb|upright=1|Detail of an Iranian jewel box decorated by khatam Khātam () is an ancient Persian technique of inlaying. It is a version of marquetry where art forms are made by decorating the surface of wooden articles with delicate pieces of wood, bone and metal precisely-cut intricate geometric patterns. Khatam-kari (خاتم‌کاری) or khatam-bandi (خاتم‌بندی) refers to the art of crafting a khatam. Common materials used in the construction of inlaid articles are gold, silver, brass, aluminum and twisted wire.

==Design and construction== Designing of inlaid articles is a highly elaborate process. There are sometimes more than 400 pieces per square inch in a work of average quality. Thin rods of different coloured woods, ivory, bone, brass, silver, etc. were glued together into long bunches that could have a round, rectangular, or polygonal cross-section. The bunches were cut into thin slices and combined with others to create intricate patterns. In each cubic centimetre up to approximately 250 individual pieces can end up side by side, smoothed, oiled and polished. Inlaid articles in the Safavid era took on a special significance as artists created their precious artworks. Woods used include betel, walnut, cypress and pine. These works include doors and windows, mirror frames, Quran boxes, inlaid boxes, pen and penholders, lanterns and shrines. ==Examples== thumb|upright=1.5|A simple Khatam marquetry box decorated with geometric patterns of triangles and 6-point stars on its sides, and a floral design on its lid thumb|Wooden gate from Gur-e-Amir, with sculpted decoration, traces of polychromy and micro-mosaics ([[khatamkari). 15th century. State Museum of History of Culture of Uzbekistan]] The ornamentation of the doors of holy places predominantly consists of inlaid motifs. Samples of these can be observed in the cities of Mashhad, Qom, Shiraz and Rey. In the Safavid era, the art of marquetry flourished in the southern cities of Iran, especially in Shiraz, Isfahan and Kerman. The inlaid-ornamented rooms at the Sa'dabad Palace and the Marble Palace in Tehran are among masterpieces of this art.