Kaveh Bahramzadeh, Davoud Asadollahvash Aali, Najmeh Khatoun Miri,
Volume 1, Issue 1 (6-2018)
Abstract
Haj Saleh Bathhouse, located in the historical fabric of Saqqez city, dates back to the Zand period. Its entrance is situated in the city's traditional bazaar. The construction style of the building is Isfahani and features unique stucco decorations. One of the notable and significant stucco reliefs in the bathhouse is the hunting scene, which has undergone extensive deterioration. This relief consists of three layers: two lime-based layers and one paint layer.
In this study, through laboratory examination, the materials used in the stratigraphy of the relief were technically identified. Subsequently, the deterioration patterns affecting the artwork were analyzed. The conservation and restoration process of the hunting scene is also detailed: following mechanical and chemical cleaning, delaminated areas were consolidated using an injection method. A slurry made from dental gypsum combined with 5% Plextol in water was injected with the aid of a pillow (bladder) technique to reattach and strengthen the lifted layers.
The missing parts were reconstructed using a mixture of gypsum and 5% Plextol, followed by chromatic reintegration with watercolors to match the surrounding areas and faded pigments. Finally, the entire artwork underwent final consolidation using 5% Plextol solution.
Amirhossein Hamidi-Khosrowshahi, Yaser Hamzavi,
Volume 4, Issue 2 (11-2021)
Abstract
The importance of architectural decorations and particularly the remained inscriptions that contain valuable information from distant times is not hidden from anyone. Therefore, it is very vital to preserve these precious artworks. The upcoming research is related to one of the oldest and rarest gypsum-based architectural decorations worked with a rare technique called Tokhmeh-Gozari. The Tokhmeh- Gozari technique have been worked in a limited number due to the difficulty in implementation, and only few number of them are passed to us. This historical work is a written and two-color inscription in Thuluth script in the Sayyid Fathullah mausoleum in Varamin. This mausoleum, which was registered in the list of national monuments in 2004, belongs to the Ilkhanid era. Also, the mentioned inscription with dimensions of 65 * 150 cm, was executed in three lines and had damages such as structural cracks on the surface along with the chemical damages. According to the decision of the trustees of the mausoleum to destroy the inscription, and also knowing that this inscription is among the oldest gypsum-based cast decorations with Tokhmeh-Gozari technique, the aim of this research is to preserve the work in its original location (the northern side of the mausoleum) and
restore it according to the best possible method. In order to achieve the most appropriate method of restoration of this inscription, the ethics
of restoration interventions were adjusted according to the artwork. And the practical part of the work, respectively included; Structural consolidation of the inscription, peeling off the inscription that led to the discovery of another inscription, mechanical and chemical cleaning, consolidating the mortar structure using fabric paste, surface stabilization, filling the lacuna using colored gypsum mortar, framing the inscription. Also, after finishing the restoration process of the artwork, it became possible for the audience to read the inscription carefully and to comprehend its conceptual content thoroughly, and the date of its creation, was revealed.
Masoud Bater, Mahbobeh Rastin ,
Volume 8, Issue 3 (11-2025)
Abstract
The stucco inscription of Aq Qaleh Mosque in Neqab, Sabzevar, represents one of the most significant Ilkhanid architectural ornaments in eastern Iran, distinguished by its artistic, historical, and technological value. This study aims to identify the construction and execution techniques, diagnose patterns of deterioration, conduct laboratory analyses, and develop a scientifically grounded approach for the conservation and restoration of the inscription. Initially, field surveys and imaging techniques were employed to document the overall condition of the monument, including its structural characteristics, paint layers, stucco carving, and decorative elements. Subsequently, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses were performed to determine the mineralogical structure and chemical composition of the pigments, indicating the use of natural mineral colorants such as red ochre and ultramarine. The diagnostic phase identified multiple deterioration factors, including damage caused by moisture, thermal fluctuations, structural stresses, chemical and biological agents, and inappropriate earlier interventions. Based on these findings, the restoration process comprised cleaning, consolidation, reconstruction of missing decorative and inscriptional elements, chromatic reintegration, and final stabilization, all carried out in accordance with the principles of reversibility, Limited intervention and compatibility in appearance. In addition, a set of preventive conservation measures aimed at ensuring preservation for an extended period was proposed, encompassing environmental control, the installation of protective barriers, staff training, and the mitigation of structural moisture. What distinguishes this research from previous studies on Ilkhanid stucco conservation is the integrated application of advanced laboratory analyses and in situ diagnostic investigations to develop a coherent, tailored conservation framework for polychrome stucco inscriptions, an approach that has not been systematically articulated within previous studies of eastern Iranian architectural ornamentation.