Abadeh is the northernmost city of Fars province Iran. It is connected to Isfahan province from the north and west, to Safashahr city from the south and to Yazd province from the east. The distance from Abadeh to Shir
az is 275 km and it is located 200 km south of Isfahan city. Abadeh has suitable and special strategic position due to its location in the vicinity of the southern national road to the centerof Iran.
Numerous books and travelogues mention The woodcarving (monabbat) profession and its products in Abadeh.
To confirm the history of woodcarving (monabbat) in Abadeh, we can refer to the text of some sources written about Iranian art. For example, books: “Masterpieces of Iranian Art” by Arthur Pope, “History of Iranian Industries after Islam” by Mohammad Hassan Zaki , ” O l d handicrafts of Iran” by Hans, A. Wolf, “Review of Iranian Handicrafts” by M.Hassan Beigi and etc. Also, the products that are produced in Abadeh today show thecontinuation of the old traditions too.
The most traditional style of Iranian woodcarving is done in Abadeh. The woods used are mainly walnut and pear trees, which are native to the region. The main tool in the” Abadeh Woodcarving Style (Monabbat)” is just a simple form Knives. Woodcarver Master implements the desired pattern on the appropriate sub-structure. Then, by applying various techniques of Woodcarving. He/she executes the final form on the designs. Mostly, plant and animal motifs are used by them, although the use of other types of motifs is not far from the mind. “Abadeh Woodcarving Style (monabbat)” can be classified as “low relief”.
One of the most famous woodcarving products that produced in Abadeh is wooden spoons which called] “Sherbet Spoon”. Some of them are kept in various museums around the world, such as the “Victoria & Albert Museum” in London. Chess & Backgammon boxes, types of Jewelry Boxes, wooden utensils such as Bowls, Plates and Pots, Sticks etc., are other woodcarving products, which produced in Abadeh.
In 2013, the first National and in 2014, the first International Registration Certificate of the “Geographical Indication” (GI) in Iranian handicrafts was issued for “Monbbat-e Abadeh” (by WIPO, Switzerlan). After that in 2015, the “Techniques of Abadeh Woodcarving Style (Monabbat)” were registered in the “National List of Intangible Heritage” of Iran. In 2017, Abadeh was registered as “National Craft City for Woodcarving (monabbt)” by ICHTO, and finally in 2018, after evaluations of the “World Craft Council (WCC)”, Abadeh was approved and introduced as”World Craft City for Woodcarving (Monabbat)”.
