An Introduction to and Examination of Arabesque Motifs in the Decorations of Islamic Period (A critique of the book “Eslimi and Medallions ”)

Document Type : Case Study

Authors

1 M.A. Student, Art Research, Facully of Arts, University of Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor of Advance Studies of Art, Facully of Arts, University of Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Arabesque is one of the most eminent ornamentations of Islamic art. Though based on existing documents this form of decoration dates back to the Sassanid era, some researchers have regarded interlacing forms as arabesque and traced their origin to ancient Greece and Rome. In Iran, the rise of Arabesque began in the Seljuk period and came to its prominence in the Safavid period. Taking an evolutionary approach to arabesque through time, this study aims to introduce the oldest examples of this pattern in Iranian decoration, which later were borrowed by other areas in the Islamic world.  In this research, a historical-analytical method was used to analyze the collected data from library documents, texts, and images. In this regard, scrutinizing the book entitled “Arabesque and Signs” that contains several contradictory comments on Arabesque was taken into consideration to resolve ambiguities.

Keywords

References

  • Amin al-Roaya, M. (2020). A Study of Arabesque Examples in the Floors of Aali Qapo Palace Based on Isfahan Mural Painting. Islamic Art, 7(19), 87-99.
  • Azami, Z., Sheikh Al-Hokamaei, M. A. & Sheikh Al-Hokamaei, T. (2013). A Comparative Study of Plant Patterns of Ctesiphon Palace with the First Mosques of Iran, Fine Arts, 18(6), 15-24.
  • Eskandarpour Khorami, P. & Hayat Nosaid, R. (2018). A study of the diversity of Islamic motifs in the design of the titles of the illustrated books of the Safavid period Case study: Five examples of the titles of the Safavid period.Visual Arts Knowledge, 5(1), 1-28.
  • Eskandarpour Khorami, P. (2018). Eslimi and Medallions Carpet, Tile, Ornament. Tehran: Sazman-e Oghaf va Omour-e Kheyrieh.
  • Javadi, Sh. (2004). Landscape in the Miniatures of Iran. Bagh-e nazar, 1(1), 25-37.
  • Khazaei, M. (1996). Kufic calligraphy and Arabesque motifs. Art and Architecture, (31), 137-142.
  • Lakpour, S. (2010). Archaeological excavations and researches in Darrehshahr. Tehran: Pazineh.
  • Lukonin, G. (2015). Iran 2 (M. Gulzari & M. Wazirpur Kashmiri, Trans.). Tehran: Ketabdar.
  • Lyman, O. (2016). An Introduction to Islamic Aesthetics (M. R. Abolghasemi, Trans.). Tehran: Mahi.
  • Mansouri, S. A. & Teymouri, M. (2015). Critique of Contemporary Traditionalists in the field of Islamic Art and Architecture, Relying on the Concept of Tradition in the Definition of Islamic Architecture. Firooze-ye-Islam, 1(1).
  • Mobini, M., Shakarami, T. & Sharifinia, A. (2018). A Comparative Study of the Plaster Decorations of Seymareh Mosque with the Nine Gonbad Mosque of Balkh and Samarra from the Abbasid Period. HONAR-HA_YE-ZIBA, HONAR-HA-YE Tajassomi, 23(1), 61-72.
  • Mohammadi, M. & Dini, A. (2018). The effect of decorative motifs of the Sassanid period on the architectural decorations of early Islamic buildings in Neishabour. Archaeological Research, 8(17), 221-241.
  • Mosaheb, G. (2008). Persian encyclopedia Mosaheb, Amirkabir.

Moshabaki Esfahani, A. & Safaei, N. (2016). The Origin of Plant Patterns in Early Islamic Art. Islamic Art, 3(10), 32-40.

  • Motafker Azad, M. & Zakavat, S. (2018). Visual Reflection of Islamic Art in Urmia Grand Mosque (Study of the Altar Decorations of Urmia Grand Mosque), Research in Art and Humanities, 3(6), 11-22.
  • Naji, M. R. (2007). Islamic culture and civilization in the Samanid realm. Tehran: Amirkabir.

Panjeh Bashi, E. & Dolab, F. (2017). Study of plant maps of Siraf in the Sassanid period. Jelve-ye Honar, 9(2), 21-38.

  • Rice, T. (2007). Iranian Heritage (A. Birashak, Trans.). Tehran: Elmi Farhangi.
  • Taghavinejad, B. & Moazani, M. (2016). A Study on Plant and Geometric Arrays of the Altar of the Society of Neyriz Mosque. Islamic Art Painting, 3(11), 76-88.
  • Wilson, E. (1998). Islamic Designs (M. R. Riazi, Trans.). Tehran: Samt.
  • Zamani, A. (1973). Tarh-e Arabesk va Eslimi dar Asar-e Tarikhi-ye Eslami-ye Iran [The Arabesque and Arabesque Design in Islamic Historical Monuments of Iran]. Honar va Mardom, (126), 17-34.
Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient
Volume 9, Issue 34
January 2022
Pages 15-28

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics