Islamic Art Studies

Islamic Art Studies

Comparative Study of Inscriptional Patterns on the Portals of Historical Schools in Isfahan: Themes and Placement

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Narges Loghmani
Nima Valibeig
Hamed Mazaherian
Department of Architecture, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
10.22034/ias.2022.229838.1243
Abstract
The portals of historical buildings, especially mosques and schools, often feature diverse symbolic and textual elements. Symbolic forms include geometric patterns and motifs, while textual elements employ various scripts, with banna'i (architectural) script being among the most commonly used. A review of studies on the architectural history of schools in Isfahan reveals limited attention to the characteristics of banna'i scripts in school architecture. This study focuses on the thematic content and placement of inscriptional patterns on the portals of historical schools in Isfahan, aiming to classify their features and highlight similarities and differences. The research is fundamental in purpose and retrospective in nature, employing a historical-analytical method with a comparative approach, combining quantitative and qualitative analyses.
Initially, field observations identified 23 historical schools in Isfahan, from which five were purposefully selected for their use of banna'i script decorations on their portals. Data collection involved both archival sources and field studies, including photographing the inscriptions and rendering them in 2D (AutoCAD) and 3D (3ds Max) software. The selected samples were compared based on five factors: inscription placement, background form, thematic content, script type, and the surface area allocated to decoration. The analysis revealed significant similarities and differences in the thematic content and placement of banna'i inscriptions on the portals of historical schools in Isfahan. Key distinguishing features include their formation themes, placement, script types used, and the extent of surface area dedicated to these decorations.
Research Objectives:

To examine the characteristics of banna'i motifs used in the thematic content of historical schools in Isfahan.
To analyze the placement of banna'i inscriptions on the portals of these schools.

Research Questions:

What are the recurring motifs in banna'i inscriptions on the portals of historical schools in Isfahan?
Are there notable similarities in the surface area proportions allocated to banna'i inscriptions across these portals?
Keywords
Inscriptional Art
Historical Schools of Isfahan
Banna'i Script
Kufic Script
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