Archeological Study of Pottery Incised in Slip Decoration Technique, Northwest of Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Department of Cultural Materials Conservation (Applied), Tabriz Islamic Art University

10.22070/negareh.2023.4646.3008

Abstract

In the Islamic period, different types of pottery techniques are used and developed in workshops in different regions. One of the techniques that has played a very important role in Islamic pottery technology is the "carved in rose" technique. This technique begins at the same time as the third and the fourth centuries AH and reaches its peak during the stages of its development in the sixth and the seventh centuries AH. This technique was introduced on unglazed pottery in the early Islamic period and then in the late third century AH with the beginning of the glazed technique with geometric and Islamic designs and from the fourth century onwards it was decorated with human and animal motifs. The discovery of a significant group of this type of pottery in northwestern Iran, suggests that northwestern Iran can be studied as one of the centers of production of this type of technique. Accordingly, in this article, an attempt has been made to study the technique of making and decorating this type of pottery in northwestern Iran using library studies and a descriptive-analytical method. In this research, an attempt has been made to answer these two basic questions: 1. In which centers have sgraffito pottery been produced in northwestern Iran? 2. In the northwest of Iran, what techniques and motifs have been used to decorate this type of pottery? Based on this study, it was found that graphic pottery was produced in northwestern Iran, in different regions such as Tabriz, Aghkand, Urmia, Garous, Zanjan and Soltanieh. It was also found that among the motifs, geometric, plant, and animal motifs were used more while inscriptional and human motifs were used less often.
Pottery has always represented the culture, beliefs and art of each region throughout history. Studies on the motifs of sgraffito utensils in northwestern Iran show that in addition to the decorative aspect, these motifs also had a symbolic aspect. Each of these symbols reflects the understanding and belief of the people of the area at the time of the formation of these potteries. The method of working in sgraffito pottery is such that first the body of the dishes is designed with predetermined designs and then they start carving and decorating. As a result, sgraffito dishes are dishes on which different designs are created by scratching the rose on them. Sgraffito pottery is one of the most common glazed pottery of the Islamic era, and also with the discovery of a significant group of this pottery in northwestern Iran, including the cities of Aghkand, Urmia, Garous, Zanjan and Soltanieh, this assumption comes to mind that northwest of Iran is the center of production of this type of technique. The purpose of this study is to study the technique of engraving in rose water in different regions of the northwest to know the technique of making and decorating it. One of the main problems in this research is the lack of sufficient information about this pottery. The reason for this is the lack of archaeological excavations in Islamic sites in northwestern Iran. In the meantime, the areas where archeological excavations have been carried out are not accessible due to the non-publication of excavation results. Therefore, in this study, the areas whose information was available have been paid more attention to. One of the most important ancient data in all historical traditions is pottery. The study of pottery can provide us with important information about the origin of their beginnings and the development of communication as well as cultural exchanges during the period of pottery. Pottery is one of the most important man-made objects during the historical period that reaches its peak in the Islamic period. Common pottery in the Islamic era is engraved or sgraffito pottery. Although scholars believe that the technique of this pottery originated in Egypt in the first century AH, for the first time this pottery was obtained from Samarra. Examples of sgraffito pottery found in Bibin Mesopotamia have also been influenced by the art of pottery in the Tong Chinese period. In Iran, samples of sgraffito pottery from the late third and the early fourth century AH in the areas of Siraf, Neishabour, Susa, Takht-e Soleiman, Amal, Zanjan, Soghand, Garous, Aghkand and Alamut have been obtained. Sgraffito pottery is divided into several areas according to construction and decoration techniques and colors; first, the geographical area of ​​northern Iran, including the areas of Amal, Alamut, and Jorjan. Northwest and West: Aghkand, Soltanieh, Sheikh Tappeh of Urmia, Hamedan, Kangavar, Bostan Arch and Takht-e Soleiman. Northeast: Neishabour, Toos, Samarkand. East and southeast: Sirjan, Lashkari Bazaar and Jiroft.

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Negareh Journal
Volume 19, Issue 70
June 2024
Pages 186-199

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  • Receive Date: 24 April 2022
  • Revise Date: 17 January 2023
  • Accept Date: 20 February 2023

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