TEHRAN – Traditional glasswork, which had fallen into oblivion, has been brought back to life in Qazvin province, ISNA reported on Saturday.

A creative center for glasswork has recently been inaugurated in one of the historical public bathhouses of Qazvin, with the aim of reviving and promoting the forgotten field, the report added.

Glass blowing is a glass-forming technique that humans have used to shape glass since the 1st century BC. The technique consists of inflating molten glass with a blowpipe to form a sort of glass bubble that can be molded into glassware for practical or artistic purposes.

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.”

ABU/MG