Penciling in the literal sense comes from decorating and scratching designs on metal objects, especially copper, gold, silver, and brass.
Or in another definition, creating lines and patterns through a pen. It is done with a hammer and on metal objects.
Kalamzani is one of the most popular fields of traditional Iranian arts, which is included in the category of arts, in the category of artificial arts, and in the group of metalwork.
Engraving on copper, making objects with copper metal, brass, silver, etc. in a cold way is called "duatgari". It became customary during the Achaemenid period and reached its peak of prosperity during the Sassanid period.
Now, in the first place, the inside or the bottom of the desired container or tray, which is usually made of silver or gold, is filled with a solution. They fill with bitumen and plaster so that the noise of the pen hurts the ear less. Also, the artist must prevent the container from getting punctured while working.
And then draw the desired pattern on the container and choose the appropriate pen and fix it on the surface of the container and hit the end of the pen with a hammer. So that grooves and patterns are created and appear on the container by changing the intensity of the impact.
Shushing Styles:
Three main styles in Iranian calligraphy have been noticed and we have introduced them:
Shiraz, Tabriz and Isfahan.
In the style of Shiraz, writing with two fine pen methods which was customary on metal (copper) and (brass) in the Safavid and Zandiya periods and before that, and embossing or inlay which was modeled on the Qajar period The Achaemenian style is used even in the present time.
Brushing is mostly used on silver. Embossing and paving begin, in this style, Achaemenid and Sassanid motifs and flower flowers are used more. In Iran, this style has been named the Shiraz school, and it should be noted that this style is specific to Shiraz.
In the Tabriz style, movement and pressure of the wrist are used to move the pen and perform pen strokes, and also in the Isfahan style. Hammer strokes are used. Of course, the pen of Tabriz is smooth and shallow, but the pen of Isfahan is deeper. They are known as "prominent painting". The artists of Isfahan have done this style a lot in recent years. This is how the pen is used in the construction of the shrine of Shia imams.