Abstract
This study examines and compares goldsmithing techniques and decorations from the Safavid and Qajar periods in Iranian architecture. Given the scarcity of written resources about these historic decorations, the research concentrates on evaluating and categorizing these ornamental works based on technical aspects. Using field studies, direct observations, and laboratory analyses, this study scientifically evaluates the execution methods, materials used, and techniques applied in these decorations. The primary goal of this research is to establish a technical understanding of various prevalent gilding methods in Iranian architecture during the Islamic era, with a focus on shaping the decorations and the type of materials used during the Safavid and Qajar periods. Utilizing a descriptive and empirical methodology, this study encompasses visual inspections, historical and field studies, as well as chemical and instrumental analyses.
This research aims to address the existing technical knowledge gap in this type of ornamentation and evaluate the differences between two different periods in the gilding decorations of Islamic-era Iran. These ornamental works have significantly contributed to the aesthetic appeal of historical structures in Iran, both internally and externally during the Islamic era. However, despite their apparent visual similarities, they have adopted completely different methods and stratifications, employing various metallurgical elements. This research focuses on evaluating several historical buildings from the Safavid and Qajar periods in Isfahan.
The summary briefly covers the research’s objective of categorizing and understanding technical aspects of plaster decorations in Iranian architecture during the Islamic epoch through field studies, observations, and interviews with craftsmen, aiming to bridge the gap in technical knowledge in this domain.
The results obtained from this research demonstrate that, generally, there exist nine distinct categories within Iranian gypsum craftsmanship during the Islamic period, each executed in various manners with different techniques, constituent materials, and shaping methods. The creation of plaster decorations has uniquely adorned the interiors and exteriors of historical structures, particularly during the Islamic era in Iran, each contributing to the aesthetics in its own distinct way.