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Mirshafiee M. (2024). The Study of Lustre Glass Works in the Islamic Era and its Compliance with the Instructions of “Al-Durra Al-Meknuna”. Parseh J Archaeol Stud. 8(29), 189-211. doi:10.22034/PJAS.8.29.189
URL: http://journal.richt.ir/mbp/article-1-872-en.html

Abstract
Lustre is an enamel painting on glass or glaze, which is baked in a furnace with a regenerating environment, and after the baking process is completed, it forms a shiny layer with a metallic polish. This metallic luster can be in different color ranges such as gold or copper red, which is created by copper and silver nanoparticles. The first works that have been obtained from the implementation of the Lustre technique are on glass containers. However, according to the theory of most researchers, this technique was used on glazed pottery from the 3rd century AH and continued. On the other hand, in the historical sources, the instructions of Lustre on Abgineh are discussed in the manuscript of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna. In the present research, it has been tried to answer the question, what are the points of commonality between the glass works of Lustre and the instructions of Risalah Al-Durra Al- Meknuna? The current research is of fundamental type and the scientific information and historical documents of the research were collected in the form of documents and then analyzed and explained using the descriptive-analytical research method. The results show that the elements used in the gilding of the glasses of the early Islamic periods are in accordance with the instructions of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna. Also, there is a match between Lustre’s glass works and the instructions of Al-Durra Al- Meknunain the way and implementation of coloring and also in the color variation.
Keywords: Glass of the Islamic Era, Lustre Enamel, Al-Durra Al- Meknuna, Lustre Glass.

Introduction
The method of collecting information will be based on library sources. The research method is based on the way of collecting information in the form of descriptive and analytical research and the type of basic research. In this research, it has been tried to collect Zarinfam glass works from books and also from the reliable sites of different museums.
An overview of the history of Lustre glass and the theory of transfer of Lustre technology from glass to pottery:
The theory of the transfer of Lustre from glass to pottery argues that the oldest documented date for the method of Lustre is related to glass and belongs to the 2nd century of Hijri and was produced in Egypt. This theory emphasizes that this technology was gradually transferred from Egypt to Basra, Iraq over time, and then transferred to pottery by Iraqi potters in the 3rd century AH. (Carl Johan Lamm, 1941; Akbari, 1393: 4 & Porter, 1381: 15; Carboni, 2001:51).
Finally, it should be mentioned that the basic questions regarding the works obtained from Syria, Iraq and even Iran remain unanswered and it is still possible to attribute the origin of Lustre glass to each of the mentioned countries. In an article entitled: Analysis of the theory of the transfer of gilded glass technology from glass to pottery, based on the treatise Al-Durra Al- Meknuna, Mirshfi’i has tried to emphasize that the oldest written work related to Lustre glass is the handwritten treatise Al-Durra Al- Meknuna written by Jaber bin Hayyan. And this treatise is even older than the Egyptian glass work (163 AH) which has been cited by researchers, and it shows the familiarity and production of Lustre by glassmakers in Iraq in the first half of the second century. In fact, it can be said that since the 3rd century A.H., Lustre flourishes on pottery and probably the production of Lustre glasses has decreased from this period onwards and then stopped. Of course, considering that in the book Javahernameh Nizami in the 6th century of Hijri, there are instructions that mention the production of Lustre both on pottery and on glass, it can be said that the production of Lustre on glass was still common until this time. is (at least in Iran). This is despite the fact that in the written works of the following centuries, such as Arais al-Jawahir and Nafais al-Ataib in 700 AH and even the treatise of Cipriano Piccolpaso in 966 AH, only the golden instructions on pottery were discussed.

Discussion 
Glass works with Lustre painting:
The collection and study of the works of the first centuries of golden glass have been taken from the written sources of the researchers as well as the works available in the prestigious sites of different museums of the world. This sample of works will help us in accordance with the instructions of Risalah al-Darrah al-Makununa. Finally, these works are compiled in table number (1) based on the estimated construction date.
Instructions related to Lustre glass in Al-Durra Al- Meknuna manuscript:
The instructions related to Lustre, in the treatise of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna, start from page 9 of the book and with the words: “Qal Jabir in the chapters of talawih”. Jabir used the word Talawih for Lustre. In the following, the instructions contained in the handwritten treatise of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna, have all been read and then translated into Farsi.

Analysis and adaptation of Lustre glass works with the instructions of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna
1- Analysis of the elemental composition of the instructions of Lustre in Risalah Al-Durra Al- Meknuna: From the analysis of the instructions presented in this treatise, it can be seen that in the instructions contained in the book of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna, metals such as copper and silver were used the most, so that copper was used in about 85% and silver in 73% of the instructions. In today’s research conducted by Brill and other researchers on gold, it has been determined that silver and its compounds cause a golden yellow color and copper compounds also cause a red color. The chemical analyzes of Lustre glasses from the early Islamic periods show that the elements used in them are in accordance with the instructions of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna. If Brill’s chemical study, regarding a number of golden pieces of glass in the Corning Glass Museum, also confirms this (Brill, 1970). Also, the description of the stages of implementation of Lustre and the baking conditions is a revival of what is clearly stated in the description of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna.
2- Match in color variety: Reading the instructions of Risalah Al-Durra Al- Meknuna shows that the instructions can create different color spectrums (Table 2). On the other hand, the examination of the works and samples presented in this research also indicates that Lustre is made in different color ranges such as yellow, dark brown, light brown, red, reddish, golden, blue, rainbow. . This shows that the artists used many instructions for painting Lustre and were not limited to one instruction. Also, in the early period of the emergence of Lustre, two or more colors were used together, which is known as multi-color Lustre.
3- Comparison of the instructions of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna and the works of Lustre glass according to the implementation method: Studying some of the instructions of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna, shows that Jaber emphasizes on the internal and external coloring of the object after presenting the instructions (image no. 4). The external and internal painting of objects in the presented glass works is quite evident and is one of the characteristics of Lustre glass in the early period. In pictures No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 19 and 20, it can be seen that Lustre paintings were done inside and outside.

Conclusion 
The sample of works shows that there are a very limited number of works that have inscriptions containing information about the place of construction or the date. However, numerous works obtained show that Syrian countries such as Iraq, Egypt and even Iran were active in the production of glass painted with Lustre enamel during the Abbasids, Copts and Fatimids. The chemical analysis of the Lustre glasses of the early Islamic periods shows that the elements used in them are in accordance with the instructions of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna. If the chemical study of Brill, regarding a number of Lustre pieces of glass in the Corning Museum of Glass, also confirms this fact that there are silver and copper as the main material in the surface of the glass. Also, the description of the stages of implementation of Lustre and the baking conditions is a revival of what is clearly stated in the description of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna. And Jaber also mentions the baking of relish under the instructions. The technical reading of the treatise Al-Durra Al- Meknuna shows that the instructions of Lustre can create diverse color spectrums, as 12 different color spectrums are presented. Various elements, metals and compounds used in Jaber’s instructions are among the main and effective factors on the variety of colors created. In this way, copper compounds produce ruby-red and copper-red colors, and instructions with silver compounds produce green-golden or yellow-golden gilts. As Pradel has confirmed, yellow, brown and deep brown, amber, orange and sometimes gold colors are created by the combined use of copper and silver compounds. This issue shows the conformity of colored works and samples with the instructions of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna. Also, in the comparative comparison of the instructions of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna and the works of Lustre Shihrah based on the method of execution, it shows that Jaber emphasizes on the interior and exterior coloring of the object under some of the instructions. The external and internal coloring and painting of the objects in the presented glass works are quite evident, especially in the works such as cups, bowls, and especially the works that have stability, and this subject is in complete agreement with the instructions contained in the book of Al-Durra Al- Meknuna.