The Study of Geometric Decorations in Tilework Dadoes of Timurid Monuments Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 ph.D. Candidate of Archaeology (Islamic Era), Faculty of Conservation & Restoration, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Associated Professor of Archaeology Department, Faculty of Conservation & Restoration, Art University of Isfahan,Isfahan, Iran.

10.30480/vaa.2023.4098.1715

Abstract

The Dado refers to the lower part of the wall from the floor to a height of about one meter, and it often has different decorations than other parts of the wall. Dadoes, in different periods, are often done with decorations such as Brickwork, carving, Tilework, a combining stone and tile, etc and with divers plant and geometric designs and motifs. Tile dadoes of Timurid Monuments in Iran are no exception to this rule and as one of the most magnificent decorative effects in the architecture of this era, includes a unique collection of geometric motifs. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to introduce and classify the geometric motifs of exquisite used in the Tilework Dadoes of Timurid Monuments in Iran and also Survey their Common features with other significant buildings Iran, in comparative studies. Therefore, the main question of this research is arisen as follows: What are the most common and major geometric motifs/ knots in the Tilework Dadoes of Timurid Monuments in Iran? Data collection has been made based on field research and written references that has analyzed the collected data from the samples through Historical-descriptive-comparative method and with a comparative approach based on geometric motifs. The results of this study, which are obtained from the study of Geometric Motifs of tile Dadoes of Timurid buildings in Iran, shows that; In the tile Dadoes of this period, the majority of ornaments , from the aspect of Geometric Motifs, are composed of numerical motifs on the basis of six, such as, "regular hexagonal" motifs, which are often located in Yazd province and often in turquoise color, "Six and Jointed Triangle", "Six and Stretched Give", "Six and roundel", "Six and Triangle", etc. The mentioned results, in addition to Iran, have been common in the buildings of other parts of the Timurid rule also the Dadoes of the tiles of the buildings of the illustrated manuscripts of this period. The Dado refers to the lower part of the wall from the floor to a height of about one meter, and it often has different decorations than other parts of the wall. Dadoes, in different periods, are often done with decorations such as Brickwork, carving, Tilework, a combining stone and tile, etc and with divers plant and geometric designs and motifs. Tile dadoes of Timurid Monuments in Iran are no exception to this rule and as one of the most magnificent decorative effects in the architecture of this era, includes a unique collection of geometric motifs. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to introduce and classify the geometric motifs of exquisite used in the Tilework Dadoes of Timurid Monuments in Iran and also Survey their Common features with other significant buildings Iran, in comparative studies.

Keywords


- Adle, Chahryâr.(1974). »Note sur le »Qabr-i Šāhrūḫ« de Damghan«, dans Le Monde Iranien et l'Islam, Tome 2, Genève: Librairie Droz, 173 – 186.
- Aube, Sandra and et al. (2020). »The Complex of Gawhar Shad in Herat: New Findings about its Architecture and Ceramic Tile Decorations«, Iran, Vol 58, 1 – 22.
- Aube, Sandra. (2016). »The Uzun Hasan Mosque in Tabriz: New Perspectives on a Tabrizi Ceramic Tile Workshop«, Muqarnas, Vol 33, 33 – 62.
- Barry, Michael).1995). Colour and Symbolism in Islamic Architecture; Eight Centuries of the Tile-Maker's Art. Parise: Thames and Hudson.
- Blessing, Patrica. (2017). »Seljuk past and Timurid present: Tile Decoration of the Yesil Kulliye in bursa«.Gesta, Vol 56, (No 2), 225 – 250.
- ______________. (2019). »The Blue-and-White Tiles of the Muradiye in Edirne: Architectural Decoration between Tabriz, Damascus, and Cairo«. Muqarnas, Vol 36, 101 – 129.
- Cağhan Keskin, Mustafa. (2012). »Timurid Tile Style in Anatolia and Footprints of Masters of Tabriz«, 1 st International Conference on Architecture & Urban Design 19-12 April 2012, EPOKA University, 1353 – 1373.
-Pickett, Douglas).1997). Early Persian Tilework, The Mediewal Flowering of Kashi. London:Associated University Press.
- O'Kane, Bernard. (1976). »The Madrasa al-Ghiyasiyya Khargird«. Iran, Vol 14, 79 – 92.
- ___________. (1979). »Taybad, Turbat-I Jam and Timurid Vaulting« Iran, Vol 17, 87 – 104.
- Samkoff, Aneta. (2014). »From Central Asia to Anatolia: the transmission of the black-line technique and the development of pre-Ottoman tilework«. Anatolia Studies, Vol 64, 199 – 215.
- Soustiel, Jean, and Yves Porter. (2003). Tombs of Paradise; The Shah-e Zende in Samarkand and architectural Ceramics of Central Asia. Hong Kong: Editions Monelle Hayot.
- Stierlin, Henry. (2002). Islamic art and architecture. London: Thames and Hudson.
- Watson, Oliver. (1975). »The Masjid- I Ali, Quhrud: an architectural and epigraphic survey«. Iran, Vol 13, 59 – 74.
- URL 1: https://archnet.org (access date 2020/10/30)         
- URL 2: https://collections.vam.ac.uk (access date: 2020/11/29)
- URL 3:  www.davidmus.dk (access date: 2019/01/24)
- URL 4: www.metmuseum.org (access date: 2019/12/5)