TEHRAN – A selection of Iranian handicrafts and traditional arts have been put on show at the 26th edition of the International Craft Selling Exhibition (L’Artigiano in Fiera) in Milan, Italy, IRNA reported on Sunday.

Some 45 craftspeople from Iran attended the event, which came to an end today, the report added.

L’Artigiano in Fiera shows the best of Italian and worldwide handicraft and artisan work. The distinctive feature of this event is the variety of products on display that come from all over the world and cover an infinite range of categories.

With 14 entries, Iran ranks first globally for the number of cities and villages registered by the World Crafts Council, as China with seven entries, Chile with four, and India with three ones come next. For instance, Shiraz is named a “world city of [diverse] handicrafts”, Malayer is a global hub for woodcarving and carved-wood furniture, while Zanjan has gained the title of a “world city of filigree”.

In addition, the ancient city of Shiraz has been chosen to host the 39th General Assembly of the World Crafts Council Asia-Pacific Region (WCC-APR) in May 2023. Shiraz has a remarkable amount of handicraft pioneers. With an average age of 70, some of these pioneers are still active in their workshops. The occupational records of about 100 pioneers are collected and are annually praised by the custodians of the WCC General Office.

ABU/AM