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Hamid Pourdavoud, Hossein Mostajeran, Parastoo Masjedi Khak,
year 3, Issue 7 (5-2019)
year 3, Issue 7 (5-2019)
Abstract
Abstract
the star tile Apart from beauty and eye-catching, is noteworthy for yet another reason, adorning the tiles with poems by high-profile poets that have doubled the beauty of these tiles. Paying attention to these inscriptions can in some cases be a guide to literary scholars, as the tile recordings sometimes differ from literary manuscripts, The difference most often seen in multiple tiles, probably each produced in a different workshop, is the same, and may indicate the prevalence of that recording during tile production. On the other hand, in some cases, because of the tile year on which the tile was written, the attribution of some poems to a particular poet can be ruled out because of the precedence of producing these tiles over the year of the poet’s birth. It should be noted, however, that in some cases there are differences due to individual scribe error, which require careful use of the inscriptions on these tiles. Because the authors of these tiles were also not error free. The main question of this study is: Can golden tile inscriptions be considered as a basic version? And if so, to what extent can these inscriptions be considered important? The main hypothesis can be put forward as follows: Since tiles are manufactured in a wide range and in different centers, in cases where all the tiles indicate a particular form of verse recordings as opposed to literary manuscripts, tile inscriptions may be given more value. And these tiles are used for critical correction, but for poems that only represent one tile, it should be used more cautiously and deductive correction, in which case only tile inscriptions can be considered as a complement to manuscripts. The research method was based on reading the inscriptions on the tiles and then comparing the Rubaiyat and verses inscribed on the tiles with the recorded form in the literary manuscript..
Keywords: Inscriptions, Golden Tile, Literary Texts, Rubaiyat, Literary Copy.
Introduction
Tile art reached its perfection during the Ilkhanid period and was recognized as an ornamental marker in the culture and art of architecture (Lashkari et al., 201440:). During this period, golden tile was used in different shapes and sizes, with different designs, motifs and inscriptions, the study of which is important in the expression of beliefs and cultures of that age. Studying the inscriptions of these tiles can help scholars to correct literary texts. Because in some cases the inscriptions on these tiles are inscribed with a poem that differs from existing literary manuscripts, or because of the precedence of the year of tile production on the poet’s birth, one can reject the attribution of poetry to a particular poet. The main question of this study is: Can golden tile inscriptions be considered as a basic version? And if so, to what extent can these inscriptions be considered important? The main hypothesis can be put forward as follows: Since tiles are manufactured in a wide range and in different centers, in cases where all the tiles indicate a particular form of verse recordings as opposed to literary manuscripts, tile inscriptions may be given more value. And these tiles are used for critical correction, but for poems that only represent one tile, it should be used more cautiously and deductive correction, in which case only tile inscriptions can be considered as a complement to manuscripts. Almost all the tiles inscriptions, except for a few (Tile 3, 8, 9, 13, First Rubai 14, 16, 17) Exactly as mentioned in this article, it is also mentioned in Takht-e-Soliman tiles (see: Quchani, 1992) and Moghadam Museum tiles (see: Quchani, 1986) Due to limitations, the image of these tiles has not been rendered, but it is important for the reader to note that this is a repetition of the recording. Also, regarding the importance of the inscriptions on these tiles, Abdullah Quchani has mentioned this in his works and has even encouraged scholars to use the inscriptions for the purpose of correcting the literary manuscript (Quchani, 1992: 24).
As mentioned earlier, this paper attempts to correct the literary texts by using the inscriptions of the golden tile, therefore, 19 tiles were studied, all of them with poems by prominent Iranian poets, including Ferdowsi, Baba Afzal Kashani, Mahasti Ganjavi and ... have been Inscriptions written. Among these poets, Ferdowsi and afterwards Baba Afzal have been the most sought after tile makers and their poems are more heavily embedded in the tiles under study than other poets. The point discussed in this article is that in all of the tiles introduced, the poems that are inserted on the tile’s margins differ from those recorded in the existing literary manuscript, In most cases this discrepancy has also been recorded in other identified golden tiles (Takht-e-Soliman tiles, or in front of museum tiles, etc.), which suggests that these differences may be due to the prevalence of the face. Recordings have been in the making of the tiles, though one cannot firmly rule out individual errors in making these differences. And it is necessary to use the inscriptions of these tiles with sufficient care to correct the literary texts about the poems of the famous Iranian poet Ferdowsi,It should be noted the recorded form of these tiles, despite the differences with some corrected manuscripts, however, the recorded form of the this tiles is found in some other manuscripts which appear in footnotes It is literally inserted And this shows the importance of these inscriptions. It is also used in cases such as Tile No. 14 Poems on these tiles, which can be used as an important version for correcting controversial Poems. As shown in the illustrations in the article, these tiles have been depicted in the central part with plant, animal and human motifs, and the tile makers have attempted to create these tiles in a naturalistic way.
Conclusion
Golden tile is an art and literary display, on most of these tiles due to the space constrained try to use Persian Rubaiyat for inscriptions, because in a low space it was possible to convey a wide meaning. In some cases these verses are in conflict with the recordings in the existing literary manuscript. In most cases where discrepancies are observed, the golden tiles emphasize a particular case, which may indicate the prevalence of the form in the past. As it was said, these tiles were manufactured in a wide area in Islamic Iran and this can increase the importance of this tile Inscriptions because if we believe that the difference between the manuscript and the tiles was due to the mistake of the tiles maker how is it possible this mistake be made in a wide area and several different workshops have taken place in an Identical form. But there were also cases where there was a discrepancy between the tiles, as was often seen in the tiles that were inscribed with the Shahnameh verses, which may have been because the Shahnameh copies were in large numbers in the past, as can be seen in the description given for tile NO 14. Also, most of the recordings on these tiles are at least in line with one version. On the other hand, as can be seen in tiles 1,7,15,18 Using these tiles can be questioned the assignment of a poem to a particular poet. Note that the creators of these tiles were not The scribe and may have been mistaken in some cases, which is why they should be cautious in the use of the inscriptions of this tile, especially when a poem comes in only one tile, as this difference It could be due to a scribe’s mistake.
the star tile Apart from beauty and eye-catching, is noteworthy for yet another reason, adorning the tiles with poems by high-profile poets that have doubled the beauty of these tiles. Paying attention to these inscriptions can in some cases be a guide to literary scholars, as the tile recordings sometimes differ from literary manuscripts, The difference most often seen in multiple tiles, probably each produced in a different workshop, is the same, and may indicate the prevalence of that recording during tile production. On the other hand, in some cases, because of the tile year on which the tile was written, the attribution of some poems to a particular poet can be ruled out because of the precedence of producing these tiles over the year of the poet’s birth. It should be noted, however, that in some cases there are differences due to individual scribe error, which require careful use of the inscriptions on these tiles. Because the authors of these tiles were also not error free. The main question of this study is: Can golden tile inscriptions be considered as a basic version? And if so, to what extent can these inscriptions be considered important? The main hypothesis can be put forward as follows: Since tiles are manufactured in a wide range and in different centers, in cases where all the tiles indicate a particular form of verse recordings as opposed to literary manuscripts, tile inscriptions may be given more value. And these tiles are used for critical correction, but for poems that only represent one tile, it should be used more cautiously and deductive correction, in which case only tile inscriptions can be considered as a complement to manuscripts. The research method was based on reading the inscriptions on the tiles and then comparing the Rubaiyat and verses inscribed on the tiles with the recorded form in the literary manuscript..
Keywords: Inscriptions, Golden Tile, Literary Texts, Rubaiyat, Literary Copy.
Introduction
Tile art reached its perfection during the Ilkhanid period and was recognized as an ornamental marker in the culture and art of architecture (Lashkari et al., 201440:). During this period, golden tile was used in different shapes and sizes, with different designs, motifs and inscriptions, the study of which is important in the expression of beliefs and cultures of that age. Studying the inscriptions of these tiles can help scholars to correct literary texts. Because in some cases the inscriptions on these tiles are inscribed with a poem that differs from existing literary manuscripts, or because of the precedence of the year of tile production on the poet’s birth, one can reject the attribution of poetry to a particular poet. The main question of this study is: Can golden tile inscriptions be considered as a basic version? And if so, to what extent can these inscriptions be considered important? The main hypothesis can be put forward as follows: Since tiles are manufactured in a wide range and in different centers, in cases where all the tiles indicate a particular form of verse recordings as opposed to literary manuscripts, tile inscriptions may be given more value. And these tiles are used for critical correction, but for poems that only represent one tile, it should be used more cautiously and deductive correction, in which case only tile inscriptions can be considered as a complement to manuscripts. Almost all the tiles inscriptions, except for a few (Tile 3, 8, 9, 13, First Rubai 14, 16, 17) Exactly as mentioned in this article, it is also mentioned in Takht-e-Soliman tiles (see: Quchani, 1992) and Moghadam Museum tiles (see: Quchani, 1986) Due to limitations, the image of these tiles has not been rendered, but it is important for the reader to note that this is a repetition of the recording. Also, regarding the importance of the inscriptions on these tiles, Abdullah Quchani has mentioned this in his works and has even encouraged scholars to use the inscriptions for the purpose of correcting the literary manuscript (Quchani, 1992: 24).
As mentioned earlier, this paper attempts to correct the literary texts by using the inscriptions of the golden tile, therefore, 19 tiles were studied, all of them with poems by prominent Iranian poets, including Ferdowsi, Baba Afzal Kashani, Mahasti Ganjavi and ... have been Inscriptions written. Among these poets, Ferdowsi and afterwards Baba Afzal have been the most sought after tile makers and their poems are more heavily embedded in the tiles under study than other poets. The point discussed in this article is that in all of the tiles introduced, the poems that are inserted on the tile’s margins differ from those recorded in the existing literary manuscript, In most cases this discrepancy has also been recorded in other identified golden tiles (Takht-e-Soliman tiles, or in front of museum tiles, etc.), which suggests that these differences may be due to the prevalence of the face. Recordings have been in the making of the tiles, though one cannot firmly rule out individual errors in making these differences. And it is necessary to use the inscriptions of these tiles with sufficient care to correct the literary texts about the poems of the famous Iranian poet Ferdowsi,It should be noted the recorded form of these tiles, despite the differences with some corrected manuscripts, however, the recorded form of the this tiles is found in some other manuscripts which appear in footnotes It is literally inserted And this shows the importance of these inscriptions. It is also used in cases such as Tile No. 14 Poems on these tiles, which can be used as an important version for correcting controversial Poems. As shown in the illustrations in the article, these tiles have been depicted in the central part with plant, animal and human motifs, and the tile makers have attempted to create these tiles in a naturalistic way.
Conclusion
Golden tile is an art and literary display, on most of these tiles due to the space constrained try to use Persian Rubaiyat for inscriptions, because in a low space it was possible to convey a wide meaning. In some cases these verses are in conflict with the recordings in the existing literary manuscript. In most cases where discrepancies are observed, the golden tiles emphasize a particular case, which may indicate the prevalence of the form in the past. As it was said, these tiles were manufactured in a wide area in Islamic Iran and this can increase the importance of this tile Inscriptions because if we believe that the difference between the manuscript and the tiles was due to the mistake of the tiles maker how is it possible this mistake be made in a wide area and several different workshops have taken place in an Identical form. But there were also cases where there was a discrepancy between the tiles, as was often seen in the tiles that were inscribed with the Shahnameh verses, which may have been because the Shahnameh copies were in large numbers in the past, as can be seen in the description given for tile NO 14. Also, most of the recordings on these tiles are at least in line with one version. On the other hand, as can be seen in tiles 1,7,15,18 Using these tiles can be questioned the assignment of a poem to a particular poet. Note that the creators of these tiles were not The scribe and may have been mistaken in some cases, which is why they should be cautious in the use of the inscriptions of this tile, especially when a poem comes in only one tile, as this difference It could be due to a scribe’s mistake.
Solmaz Raof, Ebrahim Raiygani,
year 5, Issue 17 (12-2021)
year 5, Issue 17 (12-2021)
Abstract
Abstract
The longevity of some local dynasties has led to the formation of significant settlements in different environmental contexts, including mountainous to forested areas of northern Iran. Kohneh Gorab located in North the Amlash This area was one of the inhabited areas during the reign of Al-e Kia in the east of the Gilan Province is one of the notable examples in this field. Recognition and analysis of the ancient location and communication of Kohneh Gorab as one of the settlements under the political-cultural control of the Al-e Kia family in the Gilan has necessitated the forthcoming research. The present study seeks to answer the following question: According to the cultural findings (tiles and pottery) of the ancient site of the Kohneh Gorab of the Amlash from the perspective of relative chronology and concerning related historical texts, what period can be for this site suggested? And how can the intra- and extra-regional connection of the old the Kohneh Gorab site with the surrounding areas be explained? The most important purpose of the study is a chronological explanation as well as the study of intra- and extra-regional cultural relations based on defined cultural data. The method of data collection is field-documentary and the research method is descriptive-analytical. The result is that the most important cultural finds of the Kohneh Gorab area, including pieces of tiles with monochromatic glazes and plant motifs, as well as plain pottery with carvings, Slip-Painted, glazed pottery with the monochromatic glazes, the underglaze engravers, the sprinkled glazes, the blue-white paints, the Sgraffiato paints, undergrowth paintings, indicates a cultural connection with its neighboring areas such as the Panjpiran Tepe of the Lahijan, Islamic city of the Gaskar, the Lisar Qaleh of the Talesh (intra-regional) and also indicates relations with landmarks such as the Amol, the Jorjan, the Neyshabur, the Rey and the Saveh (extra-regional). A comparative and comparative chronology of this area showed that the settlement began at least from the 3rd or 4th century AH and continued until the 8th to 10th centuries, AH, that is, at the same time as the rule of the Al-e Kia dynasty in eastern the Gilan.
Keywords: Kohneh Gorab, Al-e Kia, Islamic Pottery, Tiles.
Introduction
Archaeological studies in the Gilan Province in recent years have led to the identification of large Islamic sites that previously could only be recovered through historical texts. The Kohneh Gorab is one of these intermediate sites that has served as a link between its north and south. Information from historical texts has attributed the settlement in this area to the Al-e Kia family, while recent archaeological studies while confirming this attribution, have linked the settlement in this area to an older period. The main purpose of this research is the chronological study and analysis of the Kohneh Gorab site based on cultural data to identify its regional and supra-regional relationship. Important natural and historical sites, as well as destruction due to development activities, have been the most important necessities for documenting this area.
The questions are as follows: Cultural findings (tiles and pottery) of the ancient site of the Kohneh Gorab of the Amlash in terms of relative chronology and concerning related historical texts, what period can be proposed for this site? And based on cultural findings and comparative studies of pottery species and tile pieces, how can the internal and external relations of the Kohneh Gorab site with the surrounding sites be explained?
In the present study, pottery and tile pieces were collected from surface surveys in and around the historical site of the Kohneh Gorab and also drilled 15 test trench in predetermined places. For comparative studies, citation sources and descriptive-analytical methods were used in the research. The findings of this documentary method were analyzed to present the relative chronology and cultural relations within and outside the region.
The Tiles Sherds from the Kohneh Gorab
Tile pieces obtained from the historical site of the Kohneh Gorab are of high quality. to make these tiles, which are geometric shapes such as squares, rhombuses, triangles, star shapes, as well as star and cross shapes, they used the molding method and prefabricated molds. The surface of all these tiles is covered with monochromatic under turquoise glazes, azure, green, yellow, black, and also plant motifs with a combination of green, black or blue, and white.
From comparative studies of tiles in Islamic areas in the Gilan, we conclude that small tiles in the shape of pentagons, rhombuses, and triangles in historical buildings in the east and west of the Gilan, such as the Panjpiran tepe, the historic city of the Gaskar, the Qala-e-Rudkhan of the Fooman, which is almost contemporary in time. They are used with the ancient historical site of the KOhneh Gorab (Table 1).
The Pottery of the Kohneh Gorab Site
All pottery obtained from the Kohneh Gorab site can be divided into two general categories based on simple and glazed. Plain pottery is divided into two categories: unglazed and plain pottery and unglazed and patterned pottery. Glazed pottery is also divided into two categories: plain glazed and painted glazed. Glazed and plain pottery was divided into seven types based on the color of the coating: Unglazed and plain pottery in yellowish red, unglazed and plain pottery in reddish-brown, unglazed and plain pottery in bright red, unglazed and plain pottery in reddish yellow, unglazed and plain pottery in brown, unglazed and plain light brown pottery. According to typological studies, this type of pottery was common in many areas of the Gilan Province from the 4th to the 10th century AH (Jahani, 2011; Mirsalehi, 2019; Ramin, 2006).
Most of the pottery obtained from the Kohneh Gorab site is wheel-made and a small number of them are hand-made. Some dishes have a flat bottom and some have a long, concave base. According to the available evidence; Most of this pottery was used daily. Unglazed and painted pottery of this site can be divided into two categories based on the type of pattern: unglazed pottery with engraving, pottery with the scarred pattern. The abundance of such pottery pieces informally leads to the idea that these two types are probably of local production; However, we have to wait until laboratory studies and definite assurance in this field.
Conclusion
The main data obtained from the field survey of the Kohneh Gorab site include pieces of tiles and pottery. The tile pieces are small in size and geometric shapes (square, rhombus, pentagonal and triangular), star-shaped, covered with monochromatic glazes of blue, green, and yellow. In some of these tiles, plant motifs including arabesque and leaves have been used. Comparatively comparing these tiles with other areas, there are many similarities between them and the tiles discovered from the Panjpiran tepe in the Lahijan related to the Kiai period. From the surviving cases of these tiles and similar ones, we can mention the examples in the religious buildings of the Lahijan and the Langrud. Other data that were abundantly obtained in this site are pottery pieces belonging to the Middle Ages and late Islam. Plain pottery with carved and without patterns has a higher percentage of all pottery. These species are probably locally produced. The next groups have the most abundance of pottery with underglaze, pottery with sprayed glaze, and Sgraffito pottery after plain pottery, respectively. The Sgraffito pottery discovered from the Kohneh Gorab is technically and artistically similar to the Amol tepe. Some of the samples are of higher quality and it is possible that they came to this place from the Amol region, others were produced locally by imitating the Amol species. The black painted under the turquoise glaze and white blue pottery are another part of the cultural data obtained from this site. The better quality and lower frequency of these parts raised the issue of their import unofficially. The results of the study of these data reveal the cultural connections of this site with sites in the Gilan province such as the Panjpiran tepe of the Lahijan, Islamic city of the Gaskar, the Lisar castle, and outside the Gilan province sites such as the Amol, the Jorjan, the Neyshabur, the Rey and the Saveh. Comparative analysis of the findings indicates the settlement between the 3rd to 4th and 8th to 10th centuries AH, in which the site was relatively stable; however, to provide an accurate chronology as well as to identify the extent of the dispersal of cultural deposits, it is necessary to conduct extensive and purposeful excavations.
The longevity of some local dynasties has led to the formation of significant settlements in different environmental contexts, including mountainous to forested areas of northern Iran. Kohneh Gorab located in North the Amlash This area was one of the inhabited areas during the reign of Al-e Kia in the east of the Gilan Province is one of the notable examples in this field. Recognition and analysis of the ancient location and communication of Kohneh Gorab as one of the settlements under the political-cultural control of the Al-e Kia family in the Gilan has necessitated the forthcoming research. The present study seeks to answer the following question: According to the cultural findings (tiles and pottery) of the ancient site of the Kohneh Gorab of the Amlash from the perspective of relative chronology and concerning related historical texts, what period can be for this site suggested? And how can the intra- and extra-regional connection of the old the Kohneh Gorab site with the surrounding areas be explained? The most important purpose of the study is a chronological explanation as well as the study of intra- and extra-regional cultural relations based on defined cultural data. The method of data collection is field-documentary and the research method is descriptive-analytical. The result is that the most important cultural finds of the Kohneh Gorab area, including pieces of tiles with monochromatic glazes and plant motifs, as well as plain pottery with carvings, Slip-Painted, glazed pottery with the monochromatic glazes, the underglaze engravers, the sprinkled glazes, the blue-white paints, the Sgraffiato paints, undergrowth paintings, indicates a cultural connection with its neighboring areas such as the Panjpiran Tepe of the Lahijan, Islamic city of the Gaskar, the Lisar Qaleh of the Talesh (intra-regional) and also indicates relations with landmarks such as the Amol, the Jorjan, the Neyshabur, the Rey and the Saveh (extra-regional). A comparative and comparative chronology of this area showed that the settlement began at least from the 3rd or 4th century AH and continued until the 8th to 10th centuries, AH, that is, at the same time as the rule of the Al-e Kia dynasty in eastern the Gilan.
Keywords: Kohneh Gorab, Al-e Kia, Islamic Pottery, Tiles.
Introduction
Archaeological studies in the Gilan Province in recent years have led to the identification of large Islamic sites that previously could only be recovered through historical texts. The Kohneh Gorab is one of these intermediate sites that has served as a link between its north and south. Information from historical texts has attributed the settlement in this area to the Al-e Kia family, while recent archaeological studies while confirming this attribution, have linked the settlement in this area to an older period. The main purpose of this research is the chronological study and analysis of the Kohneh Gorab site based on cultural data to identify its regional and supra-regional relationship. Important natural and historical sites, as well as destruction due to development activities, have been the most important necessities for documenting this area.
The questions are as follows: Cultural findings (tiles and pottery) of the ancient site of the Kohneh Gorab of the Amlash in terms of relative chronology and concerning related historical texts, what period can be proposed for this site? And based on cultural findings and comparative studies of pottery species and tile pieces, how can the internal and external relations of the Kohneh Gorab site with the surrounding sites be explained?
In the present study, pottery and tile pieces were collected from surface surveys in and around the historical site of the Kohneh Gorab and also drilled 15 test trench in predetermined places. For comparative studies, citation sources and descriptive-analytical methods were used in the research. The findings of this documentary method were analyzed to present the relative chronology and cultural relations within and outside the region.
The Tiles Sherds from the Kohneh Gorab
Tile pieces obtained from the historical site of the Kohneh Gorab are of high quality. to make these tiles, which are geometric shapes such as squares, rhombuses, triangles, star shapes, as well as star and cross shapes, they used the molding method and prefabricated molds. The surface of all these tiles is covered with monochromatic under turquoise glazes, azure, green, yellow, black, and also plant motifs with a combination of green, black or blue, and white.
From comparative studies of tiles in Islamic areas in the Gilan, we conclude that small tiles in the shape of pentagons, rhombuses, and triangles in historical buildings in the east and west of the Gilan, such as the Panjpiran tepe, the historic city of the Gaskar, the Qala-e-Rudkhan of the Fooman, which is almost contemporary in time. They are used with the ancient historical site of the KOhneh Gorab (Table 1).
The Pottery of the Kohneh Gorab Site
All pottery obtained from the Kohneh Gorab site can be divided into two general categories based on simple and glazed. Plain pottery is divided into two categories: unglazed and plain pottery and unglazed and patterned pottery. Glazed pottery is also divided into two categories: plain glazed and painted glazed. Glazed and plain pottery was divided into seven types based on the color of the coating: Unglazed and plain pottery in yellowish red, unglazed and plain pottery in reddish-brown, unglazed and plain pottery in bright red, unglazed and plain pottery in reddish yellow, unglazed and plain pottery in brown, unglazed and plain light brown pottery. According to typological studies, this type of pottery was common in many areas of the Gilan Province from the 4th to the 10th century AH (Jahani, 2011; Mirsalehi, 2019; Ramin, 2006).
Most of the pottery obtained from the Kohneh Gorab site is wheel-made and a small number of them are hand-made. Some dishes have a flat bottom and some have a long, concave base. According to the available evidence; Most of this pottery was used daily. Unglazed and painted pottery of this site can be divided into two categories based on the type of pattern: unglazed pottery with engraving, pottery with the scarred pattern. The abundance of such pottery pieces informally leads to the idea that these two types are probably of local production; However, we have to wait until laboratory studies and definite assurance in this field.
Conclusion
The main data obtained from the field survey of the Kohneh Gorab site include pieces of tiles and pottery. The tile pieces are small in size and geometric shapes (square, rhombus, pentagonal and triangular), star-shaped, covered with monochromatic glazes of blue, green, and yellow. In some of these tiles, plant motifs including arabesque and leaves have been used. Comparatively comparing these tiles with other areas, there are many similarities between them and the tiles discovered from the Panjpiran tepe in the Lahijan related to the Kiai period. From the surviving cases of these tiles and similar ones, we can mention the examples in the religious buildings of the Lahijan and the Langrud. Other data that were abundantly obtained in this site are pottery pieces belonging to the Middle Ages and late Islam. Plain pottery with carved and without patterns has a higher percentage of all pottery. These species are probably locally produced. The next groups have the most abundance of pottery with underglaze, pottery with sprayed glaze, and Sgraffito pottery after plain pottery, respectively. The Sgraffito pottery discovered from the Kohneh Gorab is technically and artistically similar to the Amol tepe. Some of the samples are of higher quality and it is possible that they came to this place from the Amol region, others were produced locally by imitating the Amol species. The black painted under the turquoise glaze and white blue pottery are another part of the cultural data obtained from this site. The better quality and lower frequency of these parts raised the issue of their import unofficially. The results of the study of these data reveal the cultural connections of this site with sites in the Gilan province such as the Panjpiran tepe of the Lahijan, Islamic city of the Gaskar, the Lisar castle, and outside the Gilan province sites such as the Amol, the Jorjan, the Neyshabur, the Rey and the Saveh. Comparative analysis of the findings indicates the settlement between the 3rd to 4th and 8th to 10th centuries AH, in which the site was relatively stable; however, to provide an accurate chronology as well as to identify the extent of the dispersal of cultural deposits, it is necessary to conduct extensive and purposeful excavations.
Mohsen Javeri,
year 6, Issue 19 (5-2022)
year 6, Issue 19 (5-2022)
Abstract
Abstract
Cultural Iran according to historical evidences, archaeological remains and cultural features such as language, ceremonies and customs, it covers a wide range from Central Asia to parts of the Indian subcontinent to the Caucasus and Asia Minor and throughout the Middle East and parts of the north of Africa. Throughout the history of the governments that ruled the Iranian plateau, at certain points in time have dominated a large part of the ancient world that, while political domination, have left their cultural influence directly and indirectly in various aspects in these realms and areas. These effects on the mentioned areas are so deep that they can be considered as part of the cultural Iran. Material evidence of this influence and cultural influences can be found in the material remains left in the form of cities, as well as the character of buildings, ancient hills and historical sites and their dependent effects related to them, including the formation and patterns of pottery, architectural decorations, as well as cultural influences such as language, clothing, customs, and mythology. In this regard, trade and exchange in the form of transfer of artificial products from Iran to other lands also has a particular importance. In this regard, some pieces of tile decorations in Qalhat site were obtained during the archeological survey of the Iranian mission, which are clear examples in this field. The ancient port of Qalhat in Oman is one of the lands that owes part of its history to the presence of the Iranian element there; According to evidences, the presence began at the beginning of the historical period of Iran, ie the Achaemenid period, and has continued for centuries. In this article, we are going to introduction this ancient port to answer the question that tile decorations obtained from the archeological survey of the Iranian mission how confirm the trade and cultural exchange between Iran and this port ? Another question is: from which center or tile production center in Iran have been these tiles traded? This research is descriptive historical type and seeks to answer the research question with an archaeological approach based on evidences and remains from survery and library studies, including refering to historical texts and other sources.
Keywords: Qalhat Island, Bibimarim, Zarinfam Tile, Iranian Archaeological Board, Kashan.
Introduction
The ancient port of Qalhat is located 15 km north of the port and industrial city of Sur in the eastern province of Oman. Qalhat is one of the most important ports in Islamic lands along with other ports such as Sohar and Nazwa in Oman and Siraf in Iran, which has been of special importance throughout its history due to their location. This port is located in a triangle area where the natural and geographical features including mountains and sea have formed. The city covers an area of around 60 hectares from the west to the heights of Jabal Al-Hijr, from the north to the alluvial valley of Wadi Al-Helm, and from the east to the sea, and from the south to the city fence wall. Cultural exchanges of
The results of the study program showed that the first period of settlement in this place reaches the third millennium BC (Bronze Age of Oman). Also, historical information confirms the continuation of the activity of the inhabitants of this place in the Iron Age, and periods of Parthian, Sassanid, early Islamic, Islamic Middle Ages - Seljuk period - until the sunset of the peaks in the seventeenth century AD. Accordingly, we are witnessing a period of about four thousand five hundred years of residence and prosperity in this port city.
Description
At the end of its life, this port was occupied by the Portuguese during the reign of Shah Abbas I Safavid. The Portuguese at this time in order to expand their colonies and dominate on the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean and control the lucrative trade of these parts and compete with the Dutchs and the Britishs who at this time realized these lucrative areas, Sent warships and units of their navy to these areas and occupied important areas including several islands and ports, which can be mentione areas such as Gambron port - Bandar Abbas - Hormoz and Qishm islands in Iran and ports of Qalhat, Ras al-Hadd, Sohar, Nazwa and Qoryat in Oman. In 1639, following the revolt of the inhabitants of the people of Qalhat against the occupiers and the recapture of the city, the defeated Portuguese retreated using explosives placed in the city on one side and with the cannons of their ships on the other targeted the city with severe attacks and completely destroyed it , so that except for the tomb of Bibi Maryam and the water reservoir of the city that was adjacent to it, all urban structures were destroyed. Some have attributed the non-destruction of the tomb to the Portuguese respect for Maryam’s name. In any case, this destruction was so widespread that it led to the destruction and abandonment of the people, and thus this important port disappeared for ever.
Following the conclusion of an agreement between the Cultural Heritage Research Organization of Iran and the Ministry of Archeology and Culture of the Oman, Two research programs were conducted in the Qalhat area under the supervision of the author. During the first season in the winter of 2007, this area was archaeologically surveyed and all its architectural remains were mapped and documented. In this regard, the important places of the port, including the areas around Bibi Maryam’s tomb and Qalhat Mosque, were surveyed with more focus. In the second season, in the winter of 2008, based on the knowledge obtained from the archaeological survey conducted in the previous season, a place was selected for excavation, which resulted a building with the use of a khan or travelers’ residence.
Conclusion
One of the sites surveyed by the Iranian archaeologists is the remains of the ruined Mosque of Qalhat, which is located in the southeastern part of the city and overlooks the sea. This mosque has a square plan and was constructed with materials including rubble and light coral stones, like other buildings in the city, and from the surface artifacts, it can be seen that it was decorated with a lot of decorative elements related to architecture. The tiles used in this building are of the star and cross type in turquoise and green colors.
The most important building in this city is the tomb of Bibi Maryam, which has a quadrangular building with a crypt tomb; A building that, as mentioned, has survived the pervasive destruction of the city by the Portuguese. Bibi Maryam, the wife of “Ayaz”, the ruler of the Ilkhanid period, was in Hormoz, who sat on the throne for 2 years after the death of her husband around 696 and 697 AH. According to the available evidence, parts of the inside and outside of the tomb were covered with tiles. Except for a few pieces, none of the tile decorations are left on this building, at now, but existed evidences on walls indicate that many parts of the building are covered with different types of tiles. The study indicated that, pieces of several types of tiles were used as ornament for the tomb. In this article, we have introduce the tiles obtained from the study and discussed how to transfer these cultural materials in the form of trade and compare and them with similar examples in Iran.
Cultural Iran according to historical evidences, archaeological remains and cultural features such as language, ceremonies and customs, it covers a wide range from Central Asia to parts of the Indian subcontinent to the Caucasus and Asia Minor and throughout the Middle East and parts of the north of Africa. Throughout the history of the governments that ruled the Iranian plateau, at certain points in time have dominated a large part of the ancient world that, while political domination, have left their cultural influence directly and indirectly in various aspects in these realms and areas. These effects on the mentioned areas are so deep that they can be considered as part of the cultural Iran. Material evidence of this influence and cultural influences can be found in the material remains left in the form of cities, as well as the character of buildings, ancient hills and historical sites and their dependent effects related to them, including the formation and patterns of pottery, architectural decorations, as well as cultural influences such as language, clothing, customs, and mythology. In this regard, trade and exchange in the form of transfer of artificial products from Iran to other lands also has a particular importance. In this regard, some pieces of tile decorations in Qalhat site were obtained during the archeological survey of the Iranian mission, which are clear examples in this field. The ancient port of Qalhat in Oman is one of the lands that owes part of its history to the presence of the Iranian element there; According to evidences, the presence began at the beginning of the historical period of Iran, ie the Achaemenid period, and has continued for centuries. In this article, we are going to introduction this ancient port to answer the question that tile decorations obtained from the archeological survey of the Iranian mission how confirm the trade and cultural exchange between Iran and this port ? Another question is: from which center or tile production center in Iran have been these tiles traded? This research is descriptive historical type and seeks to answer the research question with an archaeological approach based on evidences and remains from survery and library studies, including refering to historical texts and other sources.
Keywords: Qalhat Island, Bibimarim, Zarinfam Tile, Iranian Archaeological Board, Kashan.
Introduction
The ancient port of Qalhat is located 15 km north of the port and industrial city of Sur in the eastern province of Oman. Qalhat is one of the most important ports in Islamic lands along with other ports such as Sohar and Nazwa in Oman and Siraf in Iran, which has been of special importance throughout its history due to their location. This port is located in a triangle area where the natural and geographical features including mountains and sea have formed. The city covers an area of around 60 hectares from the west to the heights of Jabal Al-Hijr, from the north to the alluvial valley of Wadi Al-Helm, and from the east to the sea, and from the south to the city fence wall. Cultural exchanges of
The results of the study program showed that the first period of settlement in this place reaches the third millennium BC (Bronze Age of Oman). Also, historical information confirms the continuation of the activity of the inhabitants of this place in the Iron Age, and periods of Parthian, Sassanid, early Islamic, Islamic Middle Ages - Seljuk period - until the sunset of the peaks in the seventeenth century AD. Accordingly, we are witnessing a period of about four thousand five hundred years of residence and prosperity in this port city.
Description
At the end of its life, this port was occupied by the Portuguese during the reign of Shah Abbas I Safavid. The Portuguese at this time in order to expand their colonies and dominate on the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean and control the lucrative trade of these parts and compete with the Dutchs and the Britishs who at this time realized these lucrative areas, Sent warships and units of their navy to these areas and occupied important areas including several islands and ports, which can be mentione areas such as Gambron port - Bandar Abbas - Hormoz and Qishm islands in Iran and ports of Qalhat, Ras al-Hadd, Sohar, Nazwa and Qoryat in Oman. In 1639, following the revolt of the inhabitants of the people of Qalhat against the occupiers and the recapture of the city, the defeated Portuguese retreated using explosives placed in the city on one side and with the cannons of their ships on the other targeted the city with severe attacks and completely destroyed it , so that except for the tomb of Bibi Maryam and the water reservoir of the city that was adjacent to it, all urban structures were destroyed. Some have attributed the non-destruction of the tomb to the Portuguese respect for Maryam’s name. In any case, this destruction was so widespread that it led to the destruction and abandonment of the people, and thus this important port disappeared for ever.
Following the conclusion of an agreement between the Cultural Heritage Research Organization of Iran and the Ministry of Archeology and Culture of the Oman, Two research programs were conducted in the Qalhat area under the supervision of the author. During the first season in the winter of 2007, this area was archaeologically surveyed and all its architectural remains were mapped and documented. In this regard, the important places of the port, including the areas around Bibi Maryam’s tomb and Qalhat Mosque, were surveyed with more focus. In the second season, in the winter of 2008, based on the knowledge obtained from the archaeological survey conducted in the previous season, a place was selected for excavation, which resulted a building with the use of a khan or travelers’ residence.
Conclusion
One of the sites surveyed by the Iranian archaeologists is the remains of the ruined Mosque of Qalhat, which is located in the southeastern part of the city and overlooks the sea. This mosque has a square plan and was constructed with materials including rubble and light coral stones, like other buildings in the city, and from the surface artifacts, it can be seen that it was decorated with a lot of decorative elements related to architecture. The tiles used in this building are of the star and cross type in turquoise and green colors.
The most important building in this city is the tomb of Bibi Maryam, which has a quadrangular building with a crypt tomb; A building that, as mentioned, has survived the pervasive destruction of the city by the Portuguese. Bibi Maryam, the wife of “Ayaz”, the ruler of the Ilkhanid period, was in Hormoz, who sat on the throne for 2 years after the death of her husband around 696 and 697 AH. According to the available evidence, parts of the inside and outside of the tomb were covered with tiles. Except for a few pieces, none of the tile decorations are left on this building, at now, but existed evidences on walls indicate that many parts of the building are covered with different types of tiles. The study indicated that, pieces of several types of tiles were used as ornament for the tomb. In this article, we have introduce the tiles obtained from the study and discussed how to transfer these cultural materials in the form of trade and compare and them with similar examples in Iran.
Zahra Rezasoltani, Mitra Shateri,
year 8, Issue 29 (12-2024)
year 8, Issue 29 (12-2024)
Abstract
Abstract
With the election of Isfahan in 1597 A.D. As the capital of the Safavid dynasty, many buildings were built in the city, most of their interior and exterior surfaces were decorated with tiles. The miniaturists of this era came to the help of tile artists and created beautiful and eye-catching works by drawing various motifs. In the Safavid period, and with the flourishing of the Isfahan school, the restriction of human figures, disappeared. According to this study, with the aim of relative dating of tiles by comparing their human motifs with the dated miniatures motifs of this period, has tried to answer these questions: What effects did the painting of the Safavid period have on the human motifs of the tiles of this period, and these effects How can it be used in the dating of tile paintings? The method of gathering the findings of this research; Findings were made through library and field studies and by identifying more than 80 tile frames with human figures from non-religious buildings and works in different museums, and the research method is descriptive, analytical, and comparative. The results of the research indicate that the human motifs on the tiles from the Isfahan school of the Safavid period have been deeply influenced, and according to the themes of the motifs, the characteristics of the drawing of clothes (Turbans, hats, shawls wrapped around the waist, long and flowery dresses), facial expressions, eyebrows, even The type of designed dishes and their matching with the motifs of figures, it is possible to consider the time period between the end of the first half to the beginning and the end of the second half of the 11th century AH for the frame of the tiles.
Keywords: Safavid Period, Dating, Human Figure, Tile, Painting.
Introduction
Tiling is one of the practical methods in architectural decoration. Since the invention of tile, this art and craft has been used in a wide way to enhance and cover the surfaces of interior and exterior of Iranian buildings. With the emergence of the Safavid dynasty, art and craft found a new life and the Safavid rulers, who were art lovers, made their court as the center of artistic and industrial gathering. Although the art of tiling is not considered an innovative art of the Safavid period, but in this time, it was not limited to the mere adaptation and imitation of the art of the predecessors, and the expansion and manifestation of this art was given special attention. The motifs drawn on the tiles of this period were more diverse than in the past, and included all types of plant motifs, geometrical, inscriptional, human, animal and even mythological motifs, while in the Timurid period, mostly plant motifs, geometrical, and inscriptional were drawn and the use of human and animal motifs was not acceptable. Such a trend had an influence on painting and, as a result, the motifs drawn on the tiles of the early Safavid period, as the tiles of the first Safavid period mostly had geometrical, Islimi and inscription motifs, but gradually with the flourishing of the Isfahan school of painting and the tendency abundant with human images, the use of single faces in terracotta works and tiles also spread.
Since the drawing of motifs on the tiles and pottery of each period was done by contemporary painters and in line with the common painting school, based on this, the following article has tried to study the human motifs of the tiles left over from the Safavid period (on buildings or separated from them).
Research questions: The current research has been carried out in the direction of the relative dating of the tiles with human motifs that have remained from the Safavid period, so the main questions of this research are What effects did the painting of the Safavid period have on the human motifs of the tiles of this period, and these effects How can it be used in the dating of tile paintings?
Research method: In this research, the information is collected through collecting library documents and texts, and field investigations in works, buildings (such as baths and churches) and museums and indoor collections (such as national museum) and museums of outside Iran (such as the Louvre or Metropolitan) have been collected. In this regard, 80 tile frames with human motifs, all were made in underglaze technology, were identified, 13 frames are still in the buildings, in their own place, and all of them are in the city of Isfahan and the rest, are separated from their main places and scattered in museums and collections inside and outside of Iran. It should be mentioned that for comparison, 50 paintings of Isfahan style, which have human motifs and have the most similarity in terms of subject and theme, style and execution method with the human motifs of the tiles, were selected. Based on the research goal and questions; the research method are descriptive, analytical and comparative.
Research background
Based on the investigations carried out, it can be said that the researches that have been carried out on the motifs of the Safavid period tiles have mostly focused on plant motifs, geometrical, and inscription motifs, and have only pointed to human motifs. Their relative dating also has not been researched. The most important references made in this area among the sources of the first category belong to travelers such as “Pietro Della Valle” (2005), who in his travelogue briefly discussed the general patterns of the tiles of this period. Among the second-hand sources, researchers such as “Sourani”(2017) have investigated the effects of painting on human and animal motifs of Safavid period fabrics. “Bakui” (2014) has also paid attention to the investigation and comparative study of the human motifs of the metals of this period. “Reisi” (1990) briefly mentioned only the introduction of a few human motifs in some of the buildings left from this period. “Mansouri Jazabadi” (2013) investigated different motifs of Safavid to Qajar bathroom tiles in the city of Isfahan and among the introduction of different motifs, she also discussed some human motifs. Despite these studies, no independent and focused research has been done on the human motifs of the tiles and their relative dating with other works, which is what the present study aims to achieve.
Discussion
The spread of Isfahan’s painting style had an impact on all arts such as tile work, metal work, pottery, or cloth weaving. This was more evident in the art of tiling, because the selection of Isfahan as the capital led to an increase in the process of urban development and the construction of various private and public works and buildings, and the need to cover their internal and external surfaces with tiles quickly. This was made possible with the help of seven-color (Haft Rang) tile technology. Among the motifs drawn on the tiles, human motifs found a revival after centuries, but these motifs were mostly used in the decoration of palaces, baths and churches. Since it was not customary to mention the date of making the tiles with human motifs, nowadays it is enough to attribute them to the Safavid period. Whereas, by classifying the themes and matching and comparing the elements in the tiles’ patterns with figures, a relatively more accurate history can be obtained.
Conclusion
By checking and studying the themes of the collected tiles and also examining the way of drawing motifs, we can be witnessing the influence of the Isfahan school by carefully observing the details of the patterns on the tiles. What is often seen in the paintings of the Isfahan school are motifs of flower-watching and recreation scenes by men and women in gardens, motifs of everyday life scenes, single faces, hunting or escape, which can also be seen in the surviving examples of tiles from this period. Investigations indicated that there are many similar features in the patterns of the tiles with Isfahan style paintings. The most important commonalities can be classified into four general sections. Drawing facial and body expressions; Clothing and its types; Objects in the scenes such as containers or patterned backs; and natural elements such as trees, flowers and bushes. So following the painting style of the Isfahan school with careful attention to the details of the motifs, the enlargement of motifs in the middle of the frame and the dominance of motifs over the frame and the placing of single faces in the center can be clearly seen in the collected examples.
In general, according to the matching of the mentioned cases on the frames with the paintings, it seems that the tiles with human motifs with hunting themes and themes of young people studying in the time frame of the first half of the 11th century A.H.(16th A.D) and human motifs with the themes of flower procession and fun and single faces are placed in the second half of the 11th century A.H.(17th AD) according to the European clothes, aprons and hats.
With the election of Isfahan in 1597 A.D. As the capital of the Safavid dynasty, many buildings were built in the city, most of their interior and exterior surfaces were decorated with tiles. The miniaturists of this era came to the help of tile artists and created beautiful and eye-catching works by drawing various motifs. In the Safavid period, and with the flourishing of the Isfahan school, the restriction of human figures, disappeared. According to this study, with the aim of relative dating of tiles by comparing their human motifs with the dated miniatures motifs of this period, has tried to answer these questions: What effects did the painting of the Safavid period have on the human motifs of the tiles of this period, and these effects How can it be used in the dating of tile paintings? The method of gathering the findings of this research; Findings were made through library and field studies and by identifying more than 80 tile frames with human figures from non-religious buildings and works in different museums, and the research method is descriptive, analytical, and comparative. The results of the research indicate that the human motifs on the tiles from the Isfahan school of the Safavid period have been deeply influenced, and according to the themes of the motifs, the characteristics of the drawing of clothes (Turbans, hats, shawls wrapped around the waist, long and flowery dresses), facial expressions, eyebrows, even The type of designed dishes and their matching with the motifs of figures, it is possible to consider the time period between the end of the first half to the beginning and the end of the second half of the 11th century AH for the frame of the tiles.
Keywords: Safavid Period, Dating, Human Figure, Tile, Painting.
Introduction
Tiling is one of the practical methods in architectural decoration. Since the invention of tile, this art and craft has been used in a wide way to enhance and cover the surfaces of interior and exterior of Iranian buildings. With the emergence of the Safavid dynasty, art and craft found a new life and the Safavid rulers, who were art lovers, made their court as the center of artistic and industrial gathering. Although the art of tiling is not considered an innovative art of the Safavid period, but in this time, it was not limited to the mere adaptation and imitation of the art of the predecessors, and the expansion and manifestation of this art was given special attention. The motifs drawn on the tiles of this period were more diverse than in the past, and included all types of plant motifs, geometrical, inscriptional, human, animal and even mythological motifs, while in the Timurid period, mostly plant motifs, geometrical, and inscriptional were drawn and the use of human and animal motifs was not acceptable. Such a trend had an influence on painting and, as a result, the motifs drawn on the tiles of the early Safavid period, as the tiles of the first Safavid period mostly had geometrical, Islimi and inscription motifs, but gradually with the flourishing of the Isfahan school of painting and the tendency abundant with human images, the use of single faces in terracotta works and tiles also spread.
Since the drawing of motifs on the tiles and pottery of each period was done by contemporary painters and in line with the common painting school, based on this, the following article has tried to study the human motifs of the tiles left over from the Safavid period (on buildings or separated from them).
Research questions: The current research has been carried out in the direction of the relative dating of the tiles with human motifs that have remained from the Safavid period, so the main questions of this research are What effects did the painting of the Safavid period have on the human motifs of the tiles of this period, and these effects How can it be used in the dating of tile paintings?
Research method: In this research, the information is collected through collecting library documents and texts, and field investigations in works, buildings (such as baths and churches) and museums and indoor collections (such as national museum) and museums of outside Iran (such as the Louvre or Metropolitan) have been collected. In this regard, 80 tile frames with human motifs, all were made in underglaze technology, were identified, 13 frames are still in the buildings, in their own place, and all of them are in the city of Isfahan and the rest, are separated from their main places and scattered in museums and collections inside and outside of Iran. It should be mentioned that for comparison, 50 paintings of Isfahan style, which have human motifs and have the most similarity in terms of subject and theme, style and execution method with the human motifs of the tiles, were selected. Based on the research goal and questions; the research method are descriptive, analytical and comparative.
Research background
Based on the investigations carried out, it can be said that the researches that have been carried out on the motifs of the Safavid period tiles have mostly focused on plant motifs, geometrical, and inscription motifs, and have only pointed to human motifs. Their relative dating also has not been researched. The most important references made in this area among the sources of the first category belong to travelers such as “Pietro Della Valle” (2005), who in his travelogue briefly discussed the general patterns of the tiles of this period. Among the second-hand sources, researchers such as “Sourani”(2017) have investigated the effects of painting on human and animal motifs of Safavid period fabrics. “Bakui” (2014) has also paid attention to the investigation and comparative study of the human motifs of the metals of this period. “Reisi” (1990) briefly mentioned only the introduction of a few human motifs in some of the buildings left from this period. “Mansouri Jazabadi” (2013) investigated different motifs of Safavid to Qajar bathroom tiles in the city of Isfahan and among the introduction of different motifs, she also discussed some human motifs. Despite these studies, no independent and focused research has been done on the human motifs of the tiles and their relative dating with other works, which is what the present study aims to achieve.
Discussion
The spread of Isfahan’s painting style had an impact on all arts such as tile work, metal work, pottery, or cloth weaving. This was more evident in the art of tiling, because the selection of Isfahan as the capital led to an increase in the process of urban development and the construction of various private and public works and buildings, and the need to cover their internal and external surfaces with tiles quickly. This was made possible with the help of seven-color (Haft Rang) tile technology. Among the motifs drawn on the tiles, human motifs found a revival after centuries, but these motifs were mostly used in the decoration of palaces, baths and churches. Since it was not customary to mention the date of making the tiles with human motifs, nowadays it is enough to attribute them to the Safavid period. Whereas, by classifying the themes and matching and comparing the elements in the tiles’ patterns with figures, a relatively more accurate history can be obtained.
Conclusion
By checking and studying the themes of the collected tiles and also examining the way of drawing motifs, we can be witnessing the influence of the Isfahan school by carefully observing the details of the patterns on the tiles. What is often seen in the paintings of the Isfahan school are motifs of flower-watching and recreation scenes by men and women in gardens, motifs of everyday life scenes, single faces, hunting or escape, which can also be seen in the surviving examples of tiles from this period. Investigations indicated that there are many similar features in the patterns of the tiles with Isfahan style paintings. The most important commonalities can be classified into four general sections. Drawing facial and body expressions; Clothing and its types; Objects in the scenes such as containers or patterned backs; and natural elements such as trees, flowers and bushes. So following the painting style of the Isfahan school with careful attention to the details of the motifs, the enlargement of motifs in the middle of the frame and the dominance of motifs over the frame and the placing of single faces in the center can be clearly seen in the collected examples.
In general, according to the matching of the mentioned cases on the frames with the paintings, it seems that the tiles with human motifs with hunting themes and themes of young people studying in the time frame of the first half of the 11th century A.H.(16th A.D) and human motifs with the themes of flower procession and fun and single faces are placed in the second half of the 11th century A.H.(17th AD) according to the European clothes, aprons and hats.
Somayeh Baseri,
year 8, Issue 30 (1-2025)
year 8, Issue 30 (1-2025)
Abstract
Abstract
Many important materials throughout the world are composed of a variety of textiles, which are stored and presented in museum collections, galleries, and libraries. These textiles are one of the most important elements of cultural heritage and interpret essential objects that document the past human life, artistic creations, international trade, agricultural development, technological developments, and their cultural and social values. As a result, it is necessary to study and apply suitable methods to protect and conserve these kinds of unique heritage textiles for our future generations. The method of conservation of these cultural-historical textiles is one of the most versatile branches of conservation and depends on various parameters. A number of bio-deterioration of cultural-historical textiles and also the disadvantages of conservation methods on these objects, human health and the environment, show the need for evaluating the bio-degradation mechanism of different microorganisms on these kinds of textiles and the use of latest methods for their conservation. In this way, the present work aims to investigate how cultural-historical textiles have been degraded, as well as the latest conservation methods. To achieve the purpose of the research, the qualitative content analysis method was used. The main research questions are what is the mechanism of biodegradability process of textiles? What is the importance of nano technologies in the protection of historical textiles? The results showed that one of the newest and most effective methods of protecting cultural-historical textiles against erosion caused by biological factors is the use of nanomaterials. These panicles have been intensively studied for various textile applications and demonstrated to provide multi-functional performance such as self-cleaning, release of dirty, protection against ultraviolet rays, antimicrobial properties, long-lasting, and multi-functional performance without compromising the intrinsic properties of the textile, which can be utilized to protect the cultural-historical textiles and slow down their degradation processes.
Keywords: Museum, Cultural-Historical Textiles, Conservation, Microorganisms, Nanomaterials.
Introduction
Since prehistoric times and in all cultures, textiles have played an important role in the traditions and life. They have been considered one of the most important elements of cultural heritage that in different periods of a country history have usually been a number of antique textiles, such as decorative and artistic fabrics, clothing, carpets, tapestries, ecclesiastical vestments, woman’s belts, bags, and paintings. They are mainly obtained from tombs, archaeological excavations, mansions, crypts, sunken ships, and churches. Although, these valuable textile artefacts interpret essential objects that document the past human life, artistic creations, international trade, agricultural development, technological developments, and their cultural and social values but they are considered to be degradable materials due to a combination of various pollutions, biological, physical, environmental, and chemical parameters. The challenge has been to develop effective strategies for the conservation of these cultural-historical textiles, considering the strategies depend on several factors such as storage conditions, textile ages, the chemical types of their fibers and also their history period of use. There are different chemical and physical methods to protect from the historical textiles (Gutarowska 2017: 2388-2406; Karbowska 2011: 223; Sequeira 2012: 67; Valentin 1999: 85; Wirtanen 2003: 293). Nowadays, nanomaterials and technologies are becoming more important than the physical and chemical methods due to their multi-functional performance such as self-cleaning, release of dirty, protection against ultraviolet rays, antimicrobial properties, long-lasting, and also due to their multi-functional performance without compromising the intrinsic properties of the textile, which improves the conservation process of cultural- historical textiles and slow down their degradation processes (Lite et al., 2022: 610; Gutarowska 2014: 277; Lite et al., 2022: 609; Zambrano et al., 2020: 9817; Syafiuddin 2019: 794).
Following this tendency, there are several worldwide studies available on this regard but very limited studies have been done in Iran. These studies have been mainly investigated the effects of optimal environmental conditions, the atmospheric pollutants, and ultraviolet rays on the conservation process of textiles (Kianoush 2008; Samanian and Bahmani 2018; Hamzovi 2019). This is in while; the majority of Iranian studies have various drawbacks in terms of evaluating the bio-degradation mechanism of different microorganisms on the historical textiles and the use of latest methods for their conservation. In this regard, the present study attempts to disclose how cultural-historical textiles have been degraded, as well as the latest conservation methods by using descriptive and analytical method and also based on library information.
Discussion
The term biodegradation is defined as an irreversible process leading to a significant change of the material properties by the action of vital activities of microorganisms (through enzymatic or metabolic action)، (Zambrano et al., 2020: 9789). This biodegradation of organic compounds frequently causes the conversion of many of oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur components in the primary molecules to the inorganic products and also creates of new cell material. In general, stages of biodegradability of materials can be expressed in the following (Fig. 1)، (Nofal 2022: 5-6):
A) Primary stage: Substance chemical structure alteration resulting in substance removal of a definite property.
B) Environmentally acceptable stage: The biodegrading process to the extent of elimination of specific unacceptable compounds properties. This process is similar to the primary biodegradation approach, and it depends on the environmental conditions.
C) Ultimate is full compound decomposition or breakdown into simple molecules fully reduced or oxidized (such as CO2/methane, nitrate/NH4+, and H2O).
The textile biodegradation process depends on the composition of the findings and the storage conditions and can occur slowly or quickly in the three following stages: 1) bio-deterioration and bio-fragmentation, 2) assimilation, and 3) Mineralization. (Lite et al., 2022: 608). Microorganisms digest the organic products of plastic degradation under aerobic or anaerobic conditions (Zambrano et al., 2020: 9790). The process of decomposing organic matter in the existence of oxygen is called aerobic bio-degradation. Anaerobic respiration is the practice of decomposing compounds by the action of microorganisms in oxygen absence and bacteria and fungi use the acceptor of an electron other than O2 as a chemical entitle (Nofal 2022: 7).
Nanotechnology is revolutionizing materials science in a pervasive way, in a manner similar to polymer chemistry’s revolution of materials science over the preceding century. The continuous development of novel nanoparticle-based materials and the study of physicochemical phenomena at the nanoscale are creating new approaches to conservation science, leading to new methodologies that can “revert” the degradation processes of the works of art, in most cases “restoring” them to their original magnificent appearance (Giorgi et al., 2010: 695). The most intensely studied nano-structures for textile artefact conservation are metal nano-particles (AgNPs), metal oxides (zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, and titanium dioxide), hydroxide nanoparticles (calcium hydroxide and barium hydroxide) and modified nano-clays due to their remarkable antimicrobial properties, UV-absorbers, water-repellents, and dirt repellents (Lite et al., 2022: 609; Giorgi et al., 2010: 702-703; Palladino et al., 2020: 3).
Conclusion
Our country, with its ancient history, is one of the most important centers with rich cultural-historical works in the world. A large part of these works are textiles which can be degraded using microorganisms due to their chemical structure. More and more studies are necessary for the field of historical textile conservation to preserve the memory of our predecessors, maintain up-to-date knowledge regarding new methods, and for future generations. Most of the studies conducted in Iran, have been investigated the effects of optimal environmental conditions, atmospheric pollutants, and ultraviolet rays on the conservation process of textiles. This is in while; the majority of Iranian studies have various drawbacks in terms of evaluating the bio-degradation mechanism of different microorganisms on the historical textiles and the use of latest methods for their conservation. In this way, the present work attempts to take a step towards the existing gaps. According to the results of this research, it can be concluded that the term biodegradation is defined as an irreversible process leading to a significant change of the material properties by the action of vital activities of microorganisms. This process occurs in the three stages i. e. bio-deterioration and bio-fragmentation, assimilation, and mineralization. The mineralization catabolic pathway depends on the environment where the microorganisms can grow and they digest the organic products of plastic degradation under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. During both processes, aerobic or anaerobic, microorganisms need a carbon source for growth and reproduction.
In order to reduce the biodegradability of textiles, several physical and chemical conservation methods have been reported in the literature. The main method of preservation is maintaining the findings a microclimate to limit degradation by adjusting the brightness, humidity, and temperature of the area in which they are stored or exposed. Recently, special attention has been given to nanomaterials. Nanotechnology is revolutionizing materials science in a pervasive way, in a manner similar to polymer chemistry’s revolution of materials science over the preceding century. The continuous development of novel nanoparticle-based materials and the study of physicochemical phenomena at the nanoscale are creating new approaches to conservation science, leading to new methodologies that can “revert” the degradation processes of the works of art, in most cases “restoring” them to their original magnificent appearance. The most intensely studied nano-structures for textile conservation are metals, metal oxides, hydroxide nanoparticles, and modified nano-clays due to their remarkable antimicrobial properties, UV-absorbers, water-repellents, and dirt repellents.
Many important materials throughout the world are composed of a variety of textiles, which are stored and presented in museum collections, galleries, and libraries. These textiles are one of the most important elements of cultural heritage and interpret essential objects that document the past human life, artistic creations, international trade, agricultural development, technological developments, and their cultural and social values. As a result, it is necessary to study and apply suitable methods to protect and conserve these kinds of unique heritage textiles for our future generations. The method of conservation of these cultural-historical textiles is one of the most versatile branches of conservation and depends on various parameters. A number of bio-deterioration of cultural-historical textiles and also the disadvantages of conservation methods on these objects, human health and the environment, show the need for evaluating the bio-degradation mechanism of different microorganisms on these kinds of textiles and the use of latest methods for their conservation. In this way, the present work aims to investigate how cultural-historical textiles have been degraded, as well as the latest conservation methods. To achieve the purpose of the research, the qualitative content analysis method was used. The main research questions are what is the mechanism of biodegradability process of textiles? What is the importance of nano technologies in the protection of historical textiles? The results showed that one of the newest and most effective methods of protecting cultural-historical textiles against erosion caused by biological factors is the use of nanomaterials. These panicles have been intensively studied for various textile applications and demonstrated to provide multi-functional performance such as self-cleaning, release of dirty, protection against ultraviolet rays, antimicrobial properties, long-lasting, and multi-functional performance without compromising the intrinsic properties of the textile, which can be utilized to protect the cultural-historical textiles and slow down their degradation processes.
Keywords: Museum, Cultural-Historical Textiles, Conservation, Microorganisms, Nanomaterials.
Introduction
Since prehistoric times and in all cultures, textiles have played an important role in the traditions and life. They have been considered one of the most important elements of cultural heritage that in different periods of a country history have usually been a number of antique textiles, such as decorative and artistic fabrics, clothing, carpets, tapestries, ecclesiastical vestments, woman’s belts, bags, and paintings. They are mainly obtained from tombs, archaeological excavations, mansions, crypts, sunken ships, and churches. Although, these valuable textile artefacts interpret essential objects that document the past human life, artistic creations, international trade, agricultural development, technological developments, and their cultural and social values but they are considered to be degradable materials due to a combination of various pollutions, biological, physical, environmental, and chemical parameters. The challenge has been to develop effective strategies for the conservation of these cultural-historical textiles, considering the strategies depend on several factors such as storage conditions, textile ages, the chemical types of their fibers and also their history period of use. There are different chemical and physical methods to protect from the historical textiles (Gutarowska 2017: 2388-2406; Karbowska 2011: 223; Sequeira 2012: 67; Valentin 1999: 85; Wirtanen 2003: 293). Nowadays, nanomaterials and technologies are becoming more important than the physical and chemical methods due to their multi-functional performance such as self-cleaning, release of dirty, protection against ultraviolet rays, antimicrobial properties, long-lasting, and also due to their multi-functional performance without compromising the intrinsic properties of the textile, which improves the conservation process of cultural- historical textiles and slow down their degradation processes (Lite et al., 2022: 610; Gutarowska 2014: 277; Lite et al., 2022: 609; Zambrano et al., 2020: 9817; Syafiuddin 2019: 794).
Following this tendency, there are several worldwide studies available on this regard but very limited studies have been done in Iran. These studies have been mainly investigated the effects of optimal environmental conditions, the atmospheric pollutants, and ultraviolet rays on the conservation process of textiles (Kianoush 2008; Samanian and Bahmani 2018; Hamzovi 2019). This is in while; the majority of Iranian studies have various drawbacks in terms of evaluating the bio-degradation mechanism of different microorganisms on the historical textiles and the use of latest methods for their conservation. In this regard, the present study attempts to disclose how cultural-historical textiles have been degraded, as well as the latest conservation methods by using descriptive and analytical method and also based on library information.
Discussion
The term biodegradation is defined as an irreversible process leading to a significant change of the material properties by the action of vital activities of microorganisms (through enzymatic or metabolic action)، (Zambrano et al., 2020: 9789). This biodegradation of organic compounds frequently causes the conversion of many of oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur components in the primary molecules to the inorganic products and also creates of new cell material. In general, stages of biodegradability of materials can be expressed in the following (Fig. 1)، (Nofal 2022: 5-6):
A) Primary stage: Substance chemical structure alteration resulting in substance removal of a definite property.
B) Environmentally acceptable stage: The biodegrading process to the extent of elimination of specific unacceptable compounds properties. This process is similar to the primary biodegradation approach, and it depends on the environmental conditions.
C) Ultimate is full compound decomposition or breakdown into simple molecules fully reduced or oxidized (such as CO2/methane, nitrate/NH4+, and H2O).
The textile biodegradation process depends on the composition of the findings and the storage conditions and can occur slowly or quickly in the three following stages: 1) bio-deterioration and bio-fragmentation, 2) assimilation, and 3) Mineralization. (Lite et al., 2022: 608). Microorganisms digest the organic products of plastic degradation under aerobic or anaerobic conditions (Zambrano et al., 2020: 9790). The process of decomposing organic matter in the existence of oxygen is called aerobic bio-degradation. Anaerobic respiration is the practice of decomposing compounds by the action of microorganisms in oxygen absence and bacteria and fungi use the acceptor of an electron other than O2 as a chemical entitle (Nofal 2022: 7).
Nanotechnology is revolutionizing materials science in a pervasive way, in a manner similar to polymer chemistry’s revolution of materials science over the preceding century. The continuous development of novel nanoparticle-based materials and the study of physicochemical phenomena at the nanoscale are creating new approaches to conservation science, leading to new methodologies that can “revert” the degradation processes of the works of art, in most cases “restoring” them to their original magnificent appearance (Giorgi et al., 2010: 695). The most intensely studied nano-structures for textile artefact conservation are metal nano-particles (AgNPs), metal oxides (zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, and titanium dioxide), hydroxide nanoparticles (calcium hydroxide and barium hydroxide) and modified nano-clays due to their remarkable antimicrobial properties, UV-absorbers, water-repellents, and dirt repellents (Lite et al., 2022: 609; Giorgi et al., 2010: 702-703; Palladino et al., 2020: 3).
Conclusion
Our country, with its ancient history, is one of the most important centers with rich cultural-historical works in the world. A large part of these works are textiles which can be degraded using microorganisms due to their chemical structure. More and more studies are necessary for the field of historical textile conservation to preserve the memory of our predecessors, maintain up-to-date knowledge regarding new methods, and for future generations. Most of the studies conducted in Iran, have been investigated the effects of optimal environmental conditions, atmospheric pollutants, and ultraviolet rays on the conservation process of textiles. This is in while; the majority of Iranian studies have various drawbacks in terms of evaluating the bio-degradation mechanism of different microorganisms on the historical textiles and the use of latest methods for their conservation. In this way, the present work attempts to take a step towards the existing gaps. According to the results of this research, it can be concluded that the term biodegradation is defined as an irreversible process leading to a significant change of the material properties by the action of vital activities of microorganisms. This process occurs in the three stages i. e. bio-deterioration and bio-fragmentation, assimilation, and mineralization. The mineralization catabolic pathway depends on the environment where the microorganisms can grow and they digest the organic products of plastic degradation under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. During both processes, aerobic or anaerobic, microorganisms need a carbon source for growth and reproduction.
In order to reduce the biodegradability of textiles, several physical and chemical conservation methods have been reported in the literature. The main method of preservation is maintaining the findings a microclimate to limit degradation by adjusting the brightness, humidity, and temperature of the area in which they are stored or exposed. Recently, special attention has been given to nanomaterials. Nanotechnology is revolutionizing materials science in a pervasive way, in a manner similar to polymer chemistry’s revolution of materials science over the preceding century. The continuous development of novel nanoparticle-based materials and the study of physicochemical phenomena at the nanoscale are creating new approaches to conservation science, leading to new methodologies that can “revert” the degradation processes of the works of art, in most cases “restoring” them to their original magnificent appearance. The most intensely studied nano-structures for textile conservation are metals, metal oxides, hydroxide nanoparticles, and modified nano-clays due to their remarkable antimicrobial properties, UV-absorbers, water-repellents, and dirt repellents.
Seyed Fazlollah Mirdehqan, Yadollah Heidari Babakamal, Elahe Khakbaz Alvandian,
year 8, Issue 30 (1-2025)
year 8, Issue 30 (1-2025)
Abstract
Abstract
Kamaliyeh Collection is one of the most significant remnants dating back to the first half of the 8th century AD in the city of Yazd. Despite its historical and archaeological importance, no studies have been conducted on this collection. Through systematic efforts carried out in the 1970s, 24 intact or broken tiles with luster patterns depicting plants, birds, and inscriptions in the form of star-shaped (kokabi) motifs were discovered. Since there have been no published studies or reports on these tiles, the present research aims to examine their visual, content, and probable origin characteristics based on historical and architectural evidence through a comparative analysis with existing samples. Therefore, the following research questions are addressed: 1. What information can be obtained from the patterns and inscriptions on luster tiles of Kamaliyeh School in Yazd? 2. Based on the visual features of the patterns, which centers of luster tile production do the identified tiles belong to? The current study employs a documentary and descriptive-historical approach, along with analytical and comparative methods, to logically address the research questions. The results indicate that the patterns on the tiles include floral designs (three pattern models with a lotus flower motif and Shah Abbasid buds around the center of the tile), birds (a flying eagle with spread wings among floral patterns), and inscriptions (Quranic verses with themes of victory, admonition, sustenance, and Persian literature derived from Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and Shams Tabrizi). These designs on the tiles serve specific religious, belief, and burial functions within the collection. Moreover, considering the significant similarity in pattern models, designs, and inscriptions among the studied samples, it is likely that Kashan was the major center for tile production. This is plausible considering the strategic communication route from Rey to Kerman passing through Kashan to Yazd for the distribution of luster tiles.
Keywords: Kamaliyeh School, Yazd, luster tiles, floral patterns and inscriptions, Kashan.
Introduction
The Al-Muzaffar era is one of the significant historical periods in the city of Yazd, ruling over the southern and central regions of Iran in the 8th century AD. The flourishing construction and development in Yazd during this period were substantial enough to lead to the expansion of its citadel and wall in several stages, particularly the relocation of some city districts outside its fortifications (Kateb, 1966: 69).
Luster tiles were crucial architectural elements used in both religious and non-religious structures during this period, adorning interior or exterior facades and mihrabs. In the Ilkhanid era, some religious buildings in cities, including the mausoleums of Shiites, were adorned with luster artworks. It seems that Yazd was one such city, gaining increased significance during the Middle Islamic centuries with the rise of the Al-Muzaffar dynasty. The Al-Muzaffar rule in Yazd, due to their support for the arts and culture of the Yazdi people, contributed significantly to the prosperity and development of the city. This support was to such an extent that one of the shining cultural periods in Yazd’s history is attributed to the reign of the Al-Muzaffar dynasty (Kateb, 1966: 89).
One notable feature of this era was the establishment of numerous Dar al-’Ilms (houses of knowledge), with Yazd earning the title of Dar al-’Ilm. Various sciences were taught in schools, mosques, Dar al-Siyadehs, and Khanqahs (Mirhosseini, 1993: 58). Another characteristic of this period was the flourishing of Sufism and the creation of various khaneqahs in Yazd and its surrounding regions, including the Rastaq Khanqah (Ibid: 265). These institutions made utmost efforts to create robust architecture and embellish it with the finest elements. One of the historical buildings of great value, adorned with remarkable luster tiles, is the Kamaliyeh Collection or Shah Kamal in Yazd. This structure was constructed in the year 720 AH by Khwaja Kamal al-Din Abu al-Ma’ali.
In the early 1970s, during organizational efforts, a number of luster tiles were discovered installed above a wall and are currently preserved in the secure storage of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization of Yazd Province (Afshar, Vol. 2, 1996: 613). Although these objects have been organized and cataloged in recent years, a comprehensive scientific study on these tiles and their origin has not been conducted so far. Therefore, the present research aims to provide logical answers to existing ambiguities regarding the origin and nature of these tiles by studying their patterns and inscriptions and comparing them with contemporary and similar samples.
Discussion and Analysis
Tile Shape: The identified luster tiles in this structure are octagonal, a model commonly used in combination with cross-shaped (Chelipa) tiles with turquoise single-glaze enamel in the decoration of religious Shia buildings, such as the shrines of Imam Reza (AS) and Hazrat Masoumeh (SA) or Takht-e-Soleiman, dating back to the 7th century AD. In their decoration, plant, animal, and inscription motifs have been employed.
Patterns: The bird pattern of a flying eagle is one of the common motifs in the decoration of these tiles, appearing in the midst of floral patterns with outspread wings. Comparable examples can be identified among luster vessels produced in the city of Kashan. Among the comparable examples, luster star-shaped tiles in the Museum of Islamic Art in Istanbul, a sample from Takht-e-Soleiman in the British Museum, samples from the Sackler collection, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Freer Gallery of Art, all date back to the Ilkhanid period and were produced in the city of Kashan.
Floral Patterns
Most of the studied tiles depict a blue lotus flower with dense branches and leaves covering the entire central area of the tile. The spaces between the branches and leaves are filled with small circular motifs arranged in a band. While the floral patterns show overall similarity, careful examination reveals at least three design patterns among them: 1) a floral design with a Shah Abbasid flower at the top with branches and leaves on both sides (examples 16-1), 2) a Shah Abbasid flower in the center with dense branches and leaves around it (example 17), and 3) a small hexagonal flower at the top with two Shah Abbasid flowers on either side (example 20). Among these three patterns, the similarities between patterns 1 and 2 with samples from the Cambi Auction House in Genoa, Italy, a specimen from Sultanabad, and a sample preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum are noteworthy.
Inscriptions
All the studied tiles include outer margins adorned with inscriptions. Among the 24 studied tiles, 18 are adorned with Quranic verses, 6 with Persian verses, 5 with verses from the Shahnameh, and one of the samples features verses from Shams Tabrizi.
The detailed analysis of the identified luster tiles in the Kamaliyeh Collection provides valuable insights into the patterns, shapes, and inscriptions used during the Al-Muzaffar era in Yazd. Comparisons with contemporary examples from Kashan and other regions contribute to a better understanding of the cultural and artistic context of this historical period.
Conclusion
The Kamaliyeh School is one of the significant educational institutions of the Ilkhanid period in the city of Yazd, expanding its influence in subsequent eras. It appears that luster tiles were utilized in adorning certain sections of the building, though the exact purpose of their use remains unclear. In the explorations conducted in Yazd, few traces of luster tiles have been discovered, and the collected samples from the Kamaliyeh School are the most important luster artifacts found to date. A crucial point is the function of these tiles, as research suggests that they are generally associated with religious beliefs or identity burial practices and have been predominantly used in shrines or burial sites. In the Kamaliyeh Collection, it is probable that they were used in the burial chamber, similar to examples found in the Seyyed Shams al-Din and Seyyed Rokn al-Din shrines in Yazd. While the samples from Takht-e-Soleiman primarily depict a royal structure (palace), the presence of religious color throughout the entire collection justifies the usage of such ceramics. Moreover, considering the Kamaliyeh Collection’s diverse functions, including a khanqah, school, and dome, and its educational-religious approach, the use of these types of tiles was likely a common practice during its time. The results also indicate the use of three categories of patterns: floral, animal, and inscription motifs. The floral patterns mostly depict a blue lotus flower, which has a long history in Iranian culture and has been used in various arts, including carpet weaving, under different names like “Shah-Abbasi flower.” With regards to the better-preserved examples, at least three design patterns emphasizing the Shah Abbasid flower are conceivable. The bird pattern of a flying eagle, present in the midst of floral patterns and on the central area of octagonal tiles, is surrounded by inscriptions in though script on the outer margin. The inscriptions draw inspiration from two different sources, the Holy Quran and Persian literature. Quranic inscriptions are categorized into several groups based on content, and the presented concepts can be considered relevant to the building’s function. Persian verses are mostly related to the Shahnameh, with only one case influenced by the poetry of Shams Tabrizi. Through a comparison of form, design patterns of motifs and inscriptions, and even the colors used, with examples preserved in museums such as the British Museum, the Museum of Islamic Art in Istanbul, the Sackler Collection, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Cambi Auction House in Genoa, it can be asserted that the probable place of production for the luster tiles of the Kamaliyeh School was the city of Kashan.
Kamaliyeh Collection is one of the most significant remnants dating back to the first half of the 8th century AD in the city of Yazd. Despite its historical and archaeological importance, no studies have been conducted on this collection. Through systematic efforts carried out in the 1970s, 24 intact or broken tiles with luster patterns depicting plants, birds, and inscriptions in the form of star-shaped (kokabi) motifs were discovered. Since there have been no published studies or reports on these tiles, the present research aims to examine their visual, content, and probable origin characteristics based on historical and architectural evidence through a comparative analysis with existing samples. Therefore, the following research questions are addressed: 1. What information can be obtained from the patterns and inscriptions on luster tiles of Kamaliyeh School in Yazd? 2. Based on the visual features of the patterns, which centers of luster tile production do the identified tiles belong to? The current study employs a documentary and descriptive-historical approach, along with analytical and comparative methods, to logically address the research questions. The results indicate that the patterns on the tiles include floral designs (three pattern models with a lotus flower motif and Shah Abbasid buds around the center of the tile), birds (a flying eagle with spread wings among floral patterns), and inscriptions (Quranic verses with themes of victory, admonition, sustenance, and Persian literature derived from Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and Shams Tabrizi). These designs on the tiles serve specific religious, belief, and burial functions within the collection. Moreover, considering the significant similarity in pattern models, designs, and inscriptions among the studied samples, it is likely that Kashan was the major center for tile production. This is plausible considering the strategic communication route from Rey to Kerman passing through Kashan to Yazd for the distribution of luster tiles.
Keywords: Kamaliyeh School, Yazd, luster tiles, floral patterns and inscriptions, Kashan.
Introduction
The Al-Muzaffar era is one of the significant historical periods in the city of Yazd, ruling over the southern and central regions of Iran in the 8th century AD. The flourishing construction and development in Yazd during this period were substantial enough to lead to the expansion of its citadel and wall in several stages, particularly the relocation of some city districts outside its fortifications (Kateb, 1966: 69).
Luster tiles were crucial architectural elements used in both religious and non-religious structures during this period, adorning interior or exterior facades and mihrabs. In the Ilkhanid era, some religious buildings in cities, including the mausoleums of Shiites, were adorned with luster artworks. It seems that Yazd was one such city, gaining increased significance during the Middle Islamic centuries with the rise of the Al-Muzaffar dynasty. The Al-Muzaffar rule in Yazd, due to their support for the arts and culture of the Yazdi people, contributed significantly to the prosperity and development of the city. This support was to such an extent that one of the shining cultural periods in Yazd’s history is attributed to the reign of the Al-Muzaffar dynasty (Kateb, 1966: 89).
One notable feature of this era was the establishment of numerous Dar al-’Ilms (houses of knowledge), with Yazd earning the title of Dar al-’Ilm. Various sciences were taught in schools, mosques, Dar al-Siyadehs, and Khanqahs (Mirhosseini, 1993: 58). Another characteristic of this period was the flourishing of Sufism and the creation of various khaneqahs in Yazd and its surrounding regions, including the Rastaq Khanqah (Ibid: 265). These institutions made utmost efforts to create robust architecture and embellish it with the finest elements. One of the historical buildings of great value, adorned with remarkable luster tiles, is the Kamaliyeh Collection or Shah Kamal in Yazd. This structure was constructed in the year 720 AH by Khwaja Kamal al-Din Abu al-Ma’ali.
In the early 1970s, during organizational efforts, a number of luster tiles were discovered installed above a wall and are currently preserved in the secure storage of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization of Yazd Province (Afshar, Vol. 2, 1996: 613). Although these objects have been organized and cataloged in recent years, a comprehensive scientific study on these tiles and their origin has not been conducted so far. Therefore, the present research aims to provide logical answers to existing ambiguities regarding the origin and nature of these tiles by studying their patterns and inscriptions and comparing them with contemporary and similar samples.
Discussion and Analysis
Tile Shape: The identified luster tiles in this structure are octagonal, a model commonly used in combination with cross-shaped (Chelipa) tiles with turquoise single-glaze enamel in the decoration of religious Shia buildings, such as the shrines of Imam Reza (AS) and Hazrat Masoumeh (SA) or Takht-e-Soleiman, dating back to the 7th century AD. In their decoration, plant, animal, and inscription motifs have been employed.
Patterns: The bird pattern of a flying eagle is one of the common motifs in the decoration of these tiles, appearing in the midst of floral patterns with outspread wings. Comparable examples can be identified among luster vessels produced in the city of Kashan. Among the comparable examples, luster star-shaped tiles in the Museum of Islamic Art in Istanbul, a sample from Takht-e-Soleiman in the British Museum, samples from the Sackler collection, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Freer Gallery of Art, all date back to the Ilkhanid period and were produced in the city of Kashan.
Floral Patterns
Most of the studied tiles depict a blue lotus flower with dense branches and leaves covering the entire central area of the tile. The spaces between the branches and leaves are filled with small circular motifs arranged in a band. While the floral patterns show overall similarity, careful examination reveals at least three design patterns among them: 1) a floral design with a Shah Abbasid flower at the top with branches and leaves on both sides (examples 16-1), 2) a Shah Abbasid flower in the center with dense branches and leaves around it (example 17), and 3) a small hexagonal flower at the top with two Shah Abbasid flowers on either side (example 20). Among these three patterns, the similarities between patterns 1 and 2 with samples from the Cambi Auction House in Genoa, Italy, a specimen from Sultanabad, and a sample preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum are noteworthy.
Inscriptions
All the studied tiles include outer margins adorned with inscriptions. Among the 24 studied tiles, 18 are adorned with Quranic verses, 6 with Persian verses, 5 with verses from the Shahnameh, and one of the samples features verses from Shams Tabrizi.
The detailed analysis of the identified luster tiles in the Kamaliyeh Collection provides valuable insights into the patterns, shapes, and inscriptions used during the Al-Muzaffar era in Yazd. Comparisons with contemporary examples from Kashan and other regions contribute to a better understanding of the cultural and artistic context of this historical period.
Conclusion
The Kamaliyeh School is one of the significant educational institutions of the Ilkhanid period in the city of Yazd, expanding its influence in subsequent eras. It appears that luster tiles were utilized in adorning certain sections of the building, though the exact purpose of their use remains unclear. In the explorations conducted in Yazd, few traces of luster tiles have been discovered, and the collected samples from the Kamaliyeh School are the most important luster artifacts found to date. A crucial point is the function of these tiles, as research suggests that they are generally associated with religious beliefs or identity burial practices and have been predominantly used in shrines or burial sites. In the Kamaliyeh Collection, it is probable that they were used in the burial chamber, similar to examples found in the Seyyed Shams al-Din and Seyyed Rokn al-Din shrines in Yazd. While the samples from Takht-e-Soleiman primarily depict a royal structure (palace), the presence of religious color throughout the entire collection justifies the usage of such ceramics. Moreover, considering the Kamaliyeh Collection’s diverse functions, including a khanqah, school, and dome, and its educational-religious approach, the use of these types of tiles was likely a common practice during its time. The results also indicate the use of three categories of patterns: floral, animal, and inscription motifs. The floral patterns mostly depict a blue lotus flower, which has a long history in Iranian culture and has been used in various arts, including carpet weaving, under different names like “Shah-Abbasi flower.” With regards to the better-preserved examples, at least three design patterns emphasizing the Shah Abbasid flower are conceivable. The bird pattern of a flying eagle, present in the midst of floral patterns and on the central area of octagonal tiles, is surrounded by inscriptions in though script on the outer margin. The inscriptions draw inspiration from two different sources, the Holy Quran and Persian literature. Quranic inscriptions are categorized into several groups based on content, and the presented concepts can be considered relevant to the building’s function. Persian verses are mostly related to the Shahnameh, with only one case influenced by the poetry of Shams Tabrizi. Through a comparison of form, design patterns of motifs and inscriptions, and even the colors used, with examples preserved in museums such as the British Museum, the Museum of Islamic Art in Istanbul, the Sackler Collection, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Cambi Auction House in Genoa, it can be asserted that the probable place of production for the luster tiles of the Kamaliyeh School was the city of Kashan.
Negar Kafili, Golamreza Rahmani,
year 9, Issue 33 (12-2025)
year 9, Issue 33 (12-2025)
Abstract
Pottery has long been one of the key mediums for expressing cultural elements in Iran. The decorative motifs used in this art form are deeply rooted in Iranian culture, literature, religion, and political contexts, immortalized through the innovative creativity of Iranian artists. Among these motifs, the “Waq Tree” or “Talking Tree” stands out as one of the most prominent decorative elements, particularly gaining attention during the Ilkhanid period. This motif, which combines natural, imaginative, and mythical elements, was employed in the luster tiles of Takht-e Soleyman and reflects a profound connection between humans, nature, and animals. This study aims to address why this motif was prominently featured and executed by artists during the early Ilkhanid rule at Abaqa Khan’s palace in Takht-e Soleyman. It seeks to explore both visual representations of the examples and their associated cultural foundations. Using a descriptive, analytical, and historical approach, supported by imaging of historical samples, this research concludes that the painters of Takht-e Soleyman’s luster tiles depicted wild animals such as deer, gazelles, and rabbits instead of humans—who are typically central to illustrations of the Talking Tree. The choice of wild animals over human figures may reflect the nature-oriented tendencies of the Seljuks and Mongols. This selection also highlights the influence of Mongol culture on Iranian art—a culture that introduced animal anthropomorphism as a prominent element in literature and art. The Waq Tree, rooted in Iranian and global folklore, symbolizes a deep connection between humans, nature, and living beings. This mythological concept is intertwined with ideas such as the sanctity of nature and the bond between the human world and the natural world. The depiction of this motif on Takht-e Soleyman’s luster tiles demonstrates the artists’ efforts to convey these concepts, which were innovatively reimagined during the Ilkhanid era.
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