Knowledge of Conservation and Restoration

Technique Analysis of the Historical Pulpit of Gorgan Jame Mosque

Saole Shadkam, Alireza Ravabi,
Volume 1, Issue 2 (7-2017)

Abstract

The conservation and restoration of historical and cultural artifacts in Iran are increasingly recognized as important fields of study. Among these, the conservation and restoration of wooden artifacts remain underexplored. The treatment of artifacts damaged by mechanical, chemical, and biological factors must be informed by prior studies to minimize the effects of these destructive influences. The Jameh (gathering) Mosque of Gorgan, a significant historical building from the Islamic era, contains many valuable decorations and artifacts, including its distinguished wooden pulpit (minbar). This pulpit, based on surviving documents, is believed to date back to the Timurid period and features intricate lattice work (gereh-chini) and wood carving (monabbat-kari), which greatly enhance its historical significance. The main objectives of this research are to understand the construction techniques used for the mosque's pulpit and to analyze the physical and chemical composition of the materials employed. To achieve these objectives, methodologies including documentation, microscopic examinations, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis were utilized.

Structural and Technical Study of Khatam Kari Using Fourier ‎Transform Infrared Spectroscopy: Study of the Khatam Door of ‎Seyyed Mosque of Isfahan

Alireza Kouchzaei, Mohsen Mohammadi Achachalui ,
Volume 1, Issue 3 (10-2017)

Abstract

Khatam Kari is one of the traditional Iranian arts with a long history, and numerous works of this art have survived ‎from past eras. Considering the limited technical studies on these works, their study plays an important role in better ‎understanding the process of making Khatam in the past. The diversity of Khatam materials and their different ‎reactions to conservation methods have a great impact on adopting the optimal conservation and treatment ‎method. As a result, identifying their constituent materials will be necessary to choose the correct method of dealing ‎with this type of works. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is one of the methods that can be used to ‎identify the nature of the organic materials that make up the khatam. Therefore, in this study, the khatam door ‎khatam of the Seyyed Mosque of Isfahan from the Qajar period was examined as a case study. For this purpose, ‎FTIR spectroscopy was used to investigate the structure and identify the materials used in its construction. The ‎results showed that the red-brown and black pieces in this khatam sample are made of wood and the white pieces ‎are made of bone. Also, Animal Glue was used as an adhesive in wrapping the khatam and lining it, and a mixture ‎containing terpenoid resins was used to finish and coat the khatam‏ ‏.

Technology of a Paper Scroll Quran from Haj Rahim Mosque in ‎Tabriz

Leila Zarei, Mohsen Mohammadi Achacheloui, Maryam Ahmadi,
Volume 1, Issue 3 (10-2017)

Abstract

Studying and examining Quranic works is of great importance due to their respect and sanctity among Muslims, so ‎that the historical, cultural and religious value of such works doubles the importance of their protection and ‎preservation. The work examined in this study is a Quran scroll sample belonging to the Haj Rahim Mosque in ‎Tabriz. According to field research and statements by the board of trustees of the mosque, this scroll was placed ‎inside the mosque wall at an unknown time as a vow or talisman and was discovered in ‎‏1350‏‎ AH during the ‎reconstruction of the mosque through the thatched wall. During this study, the paper making technique and ink ‎used in the work were studied. In line with this goal, the type of paper fibers and paper pulp and the inks used in the ‎work, including black, red and gold pigment, and finally the glue used to join the sheets together were examined. All ‎the identifications made in this research were done using chemical methods except for the identification of the type ‎of glue used at the beginning and end of the sheets, which was done using a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ‎device. The results indicate the use of linen and rag fibers and polysaccharide starch to prepare the paper and ‎carbon black ink, rosin pigment for the red ink, and copper oxide compounds for the gold color. Also, the glue used ‎at the beginning and end of the sheets was identified as -Serish- animal glue‏‏‏‏.

Analytic and Comparative Study of Physical-Historical Changes in Haj Rajab Ali Mosque in Tehran City

Arezu Feizolahbeigi,
Volume 3, Issue 1 (6-2020)

Abstract

‌‌Haj ‌‌Rajab ‌‌Ali ‌‌mosque ‌‌is ‌‌one ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌historic ‌‌buildings ‌‌in ‌‌Tehran ‌‌city, ‌‌made ‌‌in ‌‌Qajar ‌‌era. ‌‌Despite ‌‌being ‌‌prominent ‌‌the ‌‌building ‌‌has ‌‌not ‌‌been ‌‌studied ‌‌very ‌‌carefully. ‌‌The ‌‌existing ‌‌literature, ‌‌shows ‌‌informationonly ‌‌about ‌‌the ‌‌current ‌‌status ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌construction. ‌‌Most ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌information ‌‌obtained ‌‌from ‌‌these ‌‌researches ‌‌isn’t ‌‌consistent ‌‌with ‌‌the ‌‌information ‌‌in ‌‌the ‌‌historical ‌‌documents ‌‌of ‌‌different ‌‌periods, ‌‌especially ‌‌in ‌‌terms ‌‌of ‌‌physical ‌‌form, ‌‌and ‌‌there ‌‌are ‌‌contradictions ‌‌in ‌‌the ‌‌shape, ‌‌time, ‌‌and ‌‌also ‌‌the ‌‌date ‌‌of ‌‌construction ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌building. ‌‌In ‌‌this ‌‌regard, ‌‌the ‌‌present ‌‌study ‌‌examines ‌‌the ‌‌physical ‌‌changes ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌building. ‌‌The ‌‌main ‌‌purpose ‌‌of ‌‌this ‌‌research ‌‌is ‌‌to ‌‌study ‌‌the ‌‌historical ‌‌developments, ‌‌in ‌‌particular ‌‌from ‌‌the ‌‌physical ‌‌viewpoint ‌‌in ‌‌different ‌‌periods ‌‌to ‌‌determine ‌‌the ‌‌time ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌origin ‌‌and ‌‌the ‌‌course ‌‌of ‌‌changes. ‌‌For ‌‌this ‌‌purpose, ‌‌a ‌‌qualitative ‌‌research ‌‌method ‌‌has ‌‌been ‌‌used ‌‌with ‌‌a ‌‌descriptive-analytical-comparative ‌‌approach. ‌‌Data ‌‌collection ‌‌method ‌‌is ‌‌document ‌‌studies, ‌‌field ‌‌surveys ‌‌and ‌‌interviews.

Unlike ‌‌some ‌‌sources, ‌‌findings ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌research ‌‌showed ‌‌that ‌‌the ‌‌building ‌‌belongs ‌‌to ‌‌Mohammad ‌‌Shah ‌‌Qajar ‌‌period. ‌‌Also, ‌‌unlike ‌‌the ‌‌information ‌‌in ‌‌sources ‌‌the ‌‌inscription ‌‌in ‌‌the ‌‌building ‌‌doesn't ‌‌show ‌‌the ‌‌date ‌‌of ‌‌end ‌‌of ‌‌construction ‌‌and ‌‌shows ‌‌that ‌‌the ‌‌completion ‌‌process ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌building ‌‌continues ‌‌after ‌‌this ‌‌date. ‌‌Data ‌‌analysis ‌‌showed ‌‌that ‌‌physical ‌‌form ‌‌of ‌‌building ‌‌has ‌‌not ‌‌been ‌‌changed ‌‌from ‌‌completion ‌‌time ‌‌to ‌‌mid ‌‌-1960s. ‌‌Arial ‌‌photo ‌‌interpretation ‌‌determines ‌‌that ‌‌most ‌‌physical ‌‌changes ‌‌occurred ‌‌from ‌‌end ‌‌of ‌‌1960s ‌‌to ‌‌mid ‌‌1980s ‌‌which ‌‌protruded ‌‌heterogeneous ‌‌functions ‌‌to ‌‌the ‌‌building. ‌‌The ‌‌results ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌research, ‌‌through ‌‌analysis ‌‌and ‌‌interpretation ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌data, ‌‌which ‌‌are ‌‌scientifically ‌‌and ‌‌legally ‌‌legit, ‌‌have ‌‌been ‌‌able ‌‌to ‌‌chronologically ‌‌correct ‌‌the ‌‌changes ‌‌and ‌‌help ‌‌to ‌‌redesign ‌‌the ‌‌changes ‌‌and ‌‌course ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌physical-historical ‌‌modifications ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌building, ‌‌which ‌‌is ‌‌effective ‌‌in ‌‌resolving ‌‌the ‌‌ambiguities. ‌‌Finally, ‌‌combination ‌‌and ‌‌analysis ‌‌of ‌‌data ‌‌obtained ‌‌from ‌‌the ‌‌historic ‌‌maps ‌‌and ‌‌Arial ‌‌photos ‌‌data ‌‌led ‌‌to ‌‌definition ‌‌of ‌‌four ‌‌main ‌‌steps ‌‌in ‌‌physical ‌‌changes ‌‌in ‌‌the ‌‌building ‌‌which ‌‌also ‌‌defines ‌‌the ‌‌physical ‌‌authenticity ‌‌of ‌‌different ‌‌parts ‌‌of ‌‌the ‌‌building.

A Report of Persian Inscriptions about Restoration in Juma Mosque of Derbent-Caucasus, Russia

Morteza Rezvanfar,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (9-2023)

Abstract

Caucasus is the region between the Caspian and Black seas. The Caucasus Mountains divide it into northern and southern parts. The North Caucasus is a part of Russia where has seven autonomous republics and two krais. From the east, the republics are: 1- Dagestan, 2- Chechnya, 3- Ingushetia, 4- North Ossetia, 5- Kabardino-Balkaria, 6- , Karachay-Cherkessia, and 7- Adygea, and the krais are Krasnodar Krai and Stavropol Krai. South Caucasus also includes 3 countries, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. This text describes a research trip to Derbent, Dagestan. The goal was to find and prepare identity card from Persian inscriptions and some buildings with inscriptions in this city. Derbent is a small coastal city that was separated from Iran by the Golestan Treaty. This city has 150 registered artifacts and about 100 Persian inscriptions (Pahlavi and Dari Persian) from the Sassanid, Safavid, and Qajar periods. Juma Mosque in Derbend, after Narin Castle and Hesar, is the most important heritage work in the city of Derbend, which has always been
the focus of regional governments, so it has valuable inscriptions from the Mongol, Turkish, Arab and Iranian governments. The mosque's 1330-year-old age, as well as its architectural style, were the criteria for registering this valuable work under the Derbend World File in UNESCO.

Research Paper Evaluation of the restoration and technology of tile decorations of Safavid domes in Isfahan from the beginning to the present (Case study: Dome of the Abbasi Grand Mosque, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Chaharbagh School)

Sahar Ahmad Khan Beigi,
Volume 7, Issue 4 (2-2025)

Abstract

The survival of the mosaic tile arrays of Safavid-era domes in Isfahan has been based on the committed cooperation of craftsmen, architects, and artists in this field. There is a great deal of knowledge and skill, from the baking of tiles and plaster to the artistic execution of mosaic tiles, the preparation and processing of mortar and plaster slurry, and mastery of geometry, concerning the complex process of constructing and restoring the mosaic tile arrays of the domes. Given the historical, spiritual, and aesthetic values of the three domes under study, which are also considered symbols of the city of Isfahan, this research attempts to take a step toward-better protection and preservation of these domes. These studies, relying on the process and evaluation of the restoration of the mosaic tile arrays of these domes from the past to the present, have been carried out to understand and improve the restoration technique and eliminate its problems based on library studies, field methods, and data description and analysis in line with the discussions of dome tile restoration and preventing serious damage in the future. The results of the research show that careful attention to the restoration process and analysis of errors in all stages of tile making, mortar preparation, and tile installation contribute significantly to a principled restoration with minimal errors in the tile arrays of historical domes, and as a result, better protection of these masterpieces. Among the most important factors that are effective in improving the restoration process and preventing the implementation from becoming time-consuming are the existence of a comprehensive restoration plan, a management plan, continuous supervision, forming a group and consulting with experts from various related fields, and avoiding trial and error.

Research Paper Evaluation of the restoration and technology of tile decorations of Safavid domes in Isfahan from the beginning to the present (Case study: Dome of the Abbasi Grand Mosque, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Chaharbagh School)

Zohreh Motalebi, Omid Oudbashi, Sohrab Veiseh, Dariush Heydari,
Volume 7, Issue 4 (2-2025)

Abstract

The survival of the mosaic tile arrays of Safavid-era domes in Isfahan has been based on the committed cooperation of craftsmen, architects, and artists in this field. There is a great deal of knowledge and skill, from the baking of tiles and plaster to the artistic execution of mosaic tiles, the preparation and processing of mortar and plaster slurry, and mastery of geometry, concerning the complex process of constructing and restoring the mosaic tile arrays of the domes. Given the historical, spiritual, and aesthetic values of the three domes under study, which are also considered symbols of the city of Isfahan, this research attempts to take a step toward-better protection and preservation of these domes. These studies, relying on the process and evaluation of the restoration of the mosaic tile arrays of these domes from the past to the present, have been carried out to understand and improve the restoration technique and eliminate its problems based on library studies, field methods, and data description and analysis in line with the discussions of dome tile restoration and preventing serious damage in the future. The results of the research show that careful attention to the restoration process and analysis of errors in all stages of tile making, mortar preparation, and tile installation contribute significantly to a principled restoration with minimal errors in the tile arrays of historical domes, and as a result, better protection of these masterpieces. Among the most important factors that are effective in improving the restoration process and preventing the implementation from becoming time-consuming are the existence of a comprehensive restoration plan, a management plan, continuous supervision, forming a group and consulting with experts from various related fields, and avoiding trial and error.

Hypothesis on the inauthenticity of the dated inscription of the mihrab of the Jameh Mosque of Urmia

Yaser Hamzavi,
Volume 8, Issue 1 (6-2025)

Abstract

The present research investigates the authenticity and probable date of execution of the dated inscription in the central part of the mihrab of the Jameh Mosque of Urmia. At first glance, the date 676 AH inscribed on the inscription attributes its origin to this period. However, this research begins by posing the fundamental question of whether the current inscription is the same original inscription belonging to the 13th century CE (7th century AH) or whether it was reconstructed in later periods based on an older inscription that was likely damaged or destroyed. The main objective of this research is to determine or refute the authenticity of the dated inscription of the mihrab of the Jameh Mosque of Urmia. This article will analyze the mihrab inscription of the Jameh Mosque of Urmia using an analytical-historical approach and drawing upon fieldwork and artistic and historical analyses. The results of field investigations and observations of the stucco decorations in various parts of the dome chamber of the Jameh Mosque of Urmia indicate that the inscription in the central part of the mihrab, executed in 676 AH, was sketched and recorded during the Safavid period (likely). Subsequently, the inscription in question was completely destroyed (and possibly some reinforcement work was done on the underlying layer), and then the same original text that had been sketched was transferred onto a new stucco base and the stucco work was carried out. In fact, the construction date of the mihrab is indeed 676 AH, but the inscription under discussion was executed in the late Safavid period. The final section of the inscription, related to Surah Al-Fath, also dates from the restorations of this period. A noteworthy point in the intervention is that the text of the inscription was reconstructed exactly to ensure that the construction date of the mihrab and the artist who created it would not be forgotten. In essence, during a certain period (likely Safavid), a stucco master executed the dated inscription of the mihrab and the final section of the Al-Fath inscription using a specific type of stucco, a particular processing method, and a distinct cutting technique, which differ from the Ilkhanid and Qajar sections.

Technical Study, Laboratory Investigations, and Damage Assessment of the Stucco ‎Inscription of Aq Qaleh ‎ Mosque in Sabzevar and Its Conservation and Restoration

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.

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