Abstract:
Although Kashan was one of the main centers of lusterware production in the Islamic world during the Ilkhanid period, from the middle of the fourteenth century this industry declined in the city. Afterwards, at the end of the fifteenth century, once again, we witness the prevalence of making luster tiles in Kashan, but with different forms and contents. This article introduces 15 tiles which were produced between the years 1478 and 1560. These tiles were generally in the form of inscribed tablets with such functions as tombstone and mihrab, and were installed on the walls of religious buildings such as mosques and shrines. This paper, besides introducing two unknown luster tiles, surveys the content of all the known samples. It also tries to determine the difference between the luster tiles of this period and the Ilkhanid samples in terms of form, use, and content. Moreover, the relationship between the content of these tiles and the religious beliefs of the Iranian people at the beginning of the Safavid era has been addressed. The results show that in contrast to the Ilkhanid samples in which Quranic phrases constitute the main content, the luster tiles of this era are influenced by Shiite beliefs.
Machine summary:
This writing, using field research and library study, while introducing two unknown gilded tiles, for the first time revisits the content and publishes images of all known samples and examines what characteristics these tiles have in terms of form and appearance?
On the right and left margins, the Salawat al-Kabira is also written: O God, send blessings upon the Chosen One Muhammad [and] the Contented One Ali, and the Pure One Fatima, and the two grandsons Hasan and Hussein | and send blessings upon the Devotee Ali, and the Opener [Muhammad], and the Truthful Ja'far, and the Restrained Musa, and the Contented Reza | Ali and the Pious Muhammad It is noteworthy that, like the texts of other plaques, titles come first and then the names of the Imams.
The remaining text of the plaque includes the name of the deceased and the date (the last day of Jumada al-Awwal 905) written in Naskh script as follows: The death of the late, blessed, and forgiven | Master Ghiyas al-Din bin | Master Nizam al-Din Shawa, may God have mercy on him | And make Paradise his abode on the date of the twenty-ninth of Jumada | al-Awwal, the year 905, corresponding to December in the Jalali calendar | ...
The main text of the plaque, including the name of the endower and the date, is written in Thuluth script as follows: He is the Most High | He endowed this pulpit for the sake of God | The honor of the pilgrim to Mecca and Medina, Haji Eskandar | Son of Shams al-Din bin Eskandar in the blessed Muharram | Year 935 Hijri | May he be forgiven for reciting the Fatiha.
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