Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient

Wooden Capitals in Iranian Architecture: A Comprehensive Study of the Wooden Capitals of Historical Mosques in East Azerbaijan

https://doi.org/10.22034/jaco.2024.448570.1394
Volume 12, Issue 46
Winter 2025
Pages 42-53
Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Sina Askari Hassanlouei 1
Ahad Nejad Ebrahimi 2
Mehdi Mohammadzadeh 3

1 Lecturer, Department of Islamic Art, Faculty of Craft Arts, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Iran.

3 Professor, Department of Ceramics, Faculty of Fine Arts, AtaturkUniversity, Erzurum, Turkey.

Abstract
Wooden capitals in wooden mosques are important elements of this type of architecture and are indicative of the artistic taste and cultural heritage of the artist or architect who created them. There are notable examples of such works in northwest Iran, on which limited studies have been conducted to date, indicating the necessity for comprehensive research to their introduction. The aim of this research is to conduct an applied study and investigate the vertical wooden capitals of East Azerbaijan, focusing on the examination and analysis of selected samples from an artistic and technical perspective. This involves the dissection and analysis of the components that make up the studied capitals, including complete elements, shapes, compositions, connections, and construction techniques. The research method used is descriptive-analytical, which delves into the form, geometric characteristics, construction process, and constituent elements of the capitals and compares and contrasts the components of capitals in historical and wooden mosques selected for analysis. Due to the compatibility and durability of wood in the climatic conditions of East Azerbaijan province, its use as a prominent element in architecture has been welcomed by a segment of artists and architects in Azerbaijan, especially in regions such as Bonab, Ajabshir, and Maragheh. The delicacy and workability of wood have led to the creation of exquisite capitals with sometimes differing geometries, and while these capitals may appear similar at first glance, the analysis shows that there are differences in terms of geometry, formal details, and constituent elements among them. It is worth noting that these differences do not seem to be visible in the construction technique of the analyzed samples, suggesting that the construction process in these cases has been similar, possibly influenced by artists inspiring each other in creating these works.

Keywords

Iranian-Islamic architecture
Wooden mosques in Azerbaijan
Wooden capitals
Wooden columns
Wooden muqarnas
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