Wootz non-martial objects

[Emanuel]

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]

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

[TimW]

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]

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]

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]

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.