Aesthetics of Stucco and Tiles. Archaeometric and Art Historical Perspectives on Architectural Decoration in Iran, 11th-14th centuries

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Ensembles of stucco, tile revetment and wall painting, considered typical of architectural decoration in Islamic Iran, developed mainly during the Seljuk and Ilkhanid periods (11th-14th cent.). Focusing on forty structures in various regions of Iran, the proposed research project aims at identifying technical features of interior decoration with archaeometric methods. On this basis, art historical questions of the function, aesthetics and meaning will be discussed, and aspects of heritage conservation can be addressed. This project proposes the first systematic research designed to achieve a deeper understanding of artistic techniques and aesthetics of architectural revetment in medieval Iran, based on data gathered with large scale archaeometric analyses (XRD, µXRF, Raman, FORS, SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR and PLM, HG Porosometry, chemical and petrographic analyses). The preliminary basis of research consists of Seljuk and Ilkhanid stuccos originating from c. forty structures and several museum collections. Results of the analyses will be discussed in conjunction with epigraphic and art historical material, in order to assess aesthetic principles of the decorative ensembles with regard to their historical context, and ultimately contribute to an “iconography” of architectural decoration in medieval Iran. Aside from the art historical perspective, questions of heritage conservation will be relevant not only for the research (conclusions on original appearance), but also for the use of the results (future preservation). The scope and characteristics of the proposed project are partially comparable to achievements in the field of the studies of polychrome aesthetics in Classical Archaeology.