The small town of Lalejin in Hamedan Province celebrated its designation as the World Pottery Capital by the World Crafts Council on Thursday.
In a ceremony attended by Masoud Soltanifar, the head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, as well as provincial and city officials, Lalejin and its inhabitants celebrated their town's newfound global fame.
Lalejin received the designation in July by the World Crafts Council-Asia Pacific Region—a UNESCO-affiliated institution—that also bestowed the city of Mashhad in Khorasan Razavi Province the title of World Gem Capital last month.
Production of earthenware in the city dates back 700 years, helping Lalejin become a hub for pottery in Iran. According to official statistics, more than 80% of the city's 17,000 residents are in one way or the other involved in pottery.
