Master Ghaffar Davarpanah
Ghaffar Davarpanah Vernosfaderani, the pioneer of modern stone processing in Iran, passed away in Tehran at the age of 92. Born in 1929 in Sedeh, Isfahan, he was a veteran of the Iranian stone industry who entered the craft of stone carving in his early childhood, following in his father's footsteps. His father, born into a farming family, had served in the army for ten years before resigning due to financial hardships to pursue stone processing as a livelihood.
With the outbreak of World War II and the resulting economic hardships, an 11-year-old Davarpanah moved to Isfahan with his father to work as a stone carver and support his family. By 1948, utilizing his small personal savings, he established his very first stone carving workshop.
In a section of his biography, compiled by the Sakhara & Ajianeh Group, Davarpanah reflects: "My capital was exhausted, and I had no more stone to cut. Someone woke me up and said, 'We have a stone project; come see if you can take it on.'"
This encounter paved the way for his acquaintance with Engineer Sardari, a French-educated professional who played a pivotal role in Davarpanah's growth. Driven by his own perseverance and Sardari's noble mentorship, a new chapter opened in Davarpanah's life. He noted that he learned something valuable from Sardari every day, attributing much of his professional advancement to his unwavering support.
During Mossadegh's premiership, Davarpanah met Morteza Keyvan, who profoundly influenced his personal growth. He married in 1954, the same year he began collaborating with the renowned architect Houshang Seyhoun, significantly expanding his technical expertise. Around the same time, he crossed paths with Ghaffar Rahimi—often referred to as the "King of Stone in Iran"—with whom he would later execute the landmark Azadi Tower project.
In 1958, leveraging his growing expertise, Davarpanah co-founded the PEKA stone processing factory (later renamed FAPKA) with his business partners. The facility quickly became a landmark hub for introducing modern technology to Iran's stone industry. Under his leadership, the plant achieved international export standards for processed stone, earning him the title of "Father of Modern Stone Processing Technology" in Iran.
In 1963, Davarpanah established the Sakhara stone factory, which gained immense prominence through its close collaborations with many of Iran's leading architects. While the architectural use of natural stone remained limited during Reza Shah's reign, it experienced a major boom by the 1970s.
Throughout his illustrious career, Master Ghaffar Davarpanah founded ten stone processing plants, culminating in the establishment of the modern Sakhara plant in 1998, which operates today under the name Sakhara & Ajianeh Group. Ever an innovator, he introduced granite to the Iranian market and was the very first person in the country to process and cut granite stone.
His industrial achievements brought notable economic prosperity, enabling him to build a private family residence that prominent Iranian architects still regard as a masterwork of natural stone craftsmanship.
Yet wealth and success never eclipsed his humanitarian spirit; he remained a dedicated philanthropist throughout his life, actively supporting charitable organizations and community causes.
His most iconic legacy remains the Azadi Tower (Shahyad Tower) in Tehran. Davarpanah personally oversaw the stone selection, cutting, and installation, seamlessly blending industrial precision with architectural artistry to create a monument that has stood as a symbol of Iranian heritage for decades.
In addition to the Azadi Tower, he contributed his expertise to the construction of the Ministry of Interior building and several other landmark structures across the country.
The biography of Master Ghaffar Davarpanah, published through the efforts of the Sakhara & Ajianeh Group, is available for download via the link below:
