Wootz non-martial objects

Emanuel · 10th March 2011, 12:17 AM

Hi everyone,

A while ago I was talking with a blacksmith friend about crucible/wootz blades and he inquired about historical uses of wootz for regular objects.
I've checked all my books and I haven't found any examples beyond powder horns. The only rationale I can see for such objects is aesthetic, not structural/physical.

Has anyone encountered bowls, masks, mirrors of utensils of any kind made in wootz?

Thanks,
Emanuel

mahratt · 10th March 2011, 04:47 AM

I saw a mirror of wootz. Unfortunately I have no photos. : (

TimW · 10th March 2011, 08:32 AM

I've seen a pair of scissors in wootz in a book somewhere. I'll try to locate it.

It is not that surprising: wootz is a great material for making cutting tools / is very hard to forge out. The chance of using such a hard to work and precious metal in other applications is small.

ALEX · 10th March 2011, 09:41 AM

There were various wootz objects produced, such as vases/urns, boxes, decorative figures, surgical and other instruments, etc. The book "Persian Steel" shows a few. and I have seen quite a few wootz vases and bowls, they're usually nicely chiselled and gold inlaid.

Emanuel · 10th March 2011, 06:25 PM

Thanks everyone. I was fairly certain about scissors but not about vases and other objects. Alex, would that be the James Allan book, "Persian Steel: Masterpieces of Iranian Art"?

Cheers!
E

ALEX · 11th March 2011, 12:28 PM

Yes, but remember that there are two "Persian Steel" books - the catalogue and the "study" book. The book has better information and a nice chapter on wootz.

10th March 2011, 12:17 AM	#1
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Wootz non-martial objects Hi everyone, A while ago I was talking with a blacksmith friend about crucible/wootz blades and he inquired about historical uses of wootz for regular objects. I've checked all my books and I haven't found any examples beyond powder horns. The only rationale I can see for such objects is aesthetic, not structural/physical. Has anyone encountered bowls, masks, mirrors of utensils of any kind made in wootz? Thanks, Emanuel

10th March 2011, 04:47 AM	#2
mahratt Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Russia Posts: 1,042	I saw a mirror of wootz. Unfortunately I have no photos. : (

10th March 2011, 08:32 AM	#3
TimW Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 54	I've seen a pair of scissors in wootz in a book somewhere. I'll try to locate it. It is not that surprising: wootz is a great material for making cutting tools / is very hard to forge out. The chance of using such a hard to work and precious metal in other applications is small.

10th March 2011, 09:41 AM	#4
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	There were various wootz objects produced, such as vases/urns, boxes, decorative figures, surgical and other instruments, etc. The book "Persian Steel" shows a few. and I have seen quite a few wootz vases and bowls, they're usually nicely chiselled and gold inlaid.

10th March 2011, 06:25 PM	#5
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Thanks everyone. I was fairly certain about scissors but not about vases and other objects. Alex, would that be the James Allan book, "Persian Steel: Masterpieces of Iranian Art"? Cheers! E

11th March 2011, 12:28 PM	#6
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Yes, but remember that there are two "Persian Steel" books - the catalogue and the "study" book. The book has better information and a nice chapter on wootz.