TEHRAN – A restoration work has commenced on Kalporagan’s Living Museum of Pottery which underpins know-how of regional earthenware in a village of the same name in southeast Iran.

The project is aimed to help revitalize the “living” museum, which is dedicated entirely to pottery techniques passed down through generations without change, CHTN reported.

Located in Saravan county of Sistan-Baluchestan province, Kalporagan has long been celebrated for its unique approach to pottery, where artisans craft intricate pieces without using a potter's wheel. This traditional method has been meticulously preserved by the local women, who continue to employ the same techniques as their ancestors, while the men gather and prepare the clay from a nearby mine.

On Thursday, the provincial tourism directorate, Mohammad-Hadi Tehrani-Moghaddam, announced the project’s launch, highlighting the allocation of national funds to support the restoration and completion of the museum.

“Kalporagan’s pottery is not only a local treasure but a global heritage asset. Unfortunately, in recent years, it has not received the attention it deserves. However, through a series of field visits and persistent efforts, we have secured funding to ensure this invaluable museum is fully restored and enhanced.”

One of the main objectives of the restoration project is the establishment of nine new handicraft booths within the museum, the official said.

He said the project also includes several significant improvements to the museum’s infrastructure.

Experts say the art of pottery without any pottery wheel in Kalporgan has been inherited orally from one to another without any changes for millennia. Here, geometric patterns with ancient motifs reflect artisans' inspirations.

According to Visit Iran, Kalporagan pottery can be in diverse forms, such as: bowl, Jar, cup, sugar pot, pitcher and mug. Kalporagan was the first Iranian Village included in the WIPO list since 2017.

Kalporagan’s pottery museum was established in 2009 as a living museum. The village hosts around 20 to 25 thousand tourists every year.

AM