Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture

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Existing approaches to inscriptions tend often to regard various literary aspects, some considerations on the text content, historical importance, and tendency to the past events illustrated in the inscriptions, and this has led to the typology and classification of inscriptions in terms of endowment, decree, memorial, and construction themes, and in another way, the recognition of stuffs and materials.
In the meantime, it has been underestimated the artistic aspects of the inscriptions in terms of high-value calligraphy. An important part of this failing goes back to the lack of fundamentals and methods for the critique of inscriptions based on calligraphic considerations and its principles and rules. Although such principles and rules are regarded as an important source and criterion for understanding beauty, recognizing and analyzing calligraphy works, however this measure has been applied in non-engraving forms, piecewriting ,chalipa, scribing manuscripts, book binding, but neglected in the practice of inscription.
The purpose of this study is to provide theoretical and analytical bases and fundamentals on how to benefit from the principles and rules of calligraphy in inscription from the perspective of calligraphic art. The study is conducted in an analytical and descriptive method based on library studies and field data on inscriptions. Answering to the main question and issue of the research, i.e. how to analyze the inscriptions in terms of the principles and rules of calligraphy, an referring to the treatises and related researches on calligraphy, the findings of the study indicate that It is possible to use the principles and rules contained in the calligraphy treatises, with special considerations on inscription and architectural requirements with some necessary modifications and bearing in mind the degree of adaptation of some of them in the inscription.
The principles of proportion (alignment), composition (coordination), and seat are of more value. And the principles of Safa (succulence) and Shaan (pleasant) and the rule of the theoretical and practical writing are at the next importance. The way of recognition of the style and method as an essential component in the analysis of inscription, given the quality and quantity of inscriptions, is also important. It is obvious that the proposed principles, along with other methods and typologies of inscription studies, can lead to a more systematic understanding of the values of inscriptions, and provide a more fresh perspective for assessment and analysis of  aesthetic aspects of the inscriptions.

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Introduction: The plant decorations are considered as the most obvious designs that are used elaborately in different works of art. They are also used frequently in architectural decoration, particularly the ones made of stucco. The way these plant ornaments are composed characterizes the period in which they were created though many of these compositions have been repeated frequently over centuries. The goal of this research is to study the typology and classify the significant plant compositions in the stucco decorations from the Islamic period to the fourteenth century. In order to achieve this goal, the following questions should be answered:

• What are the most popular plant compositions in the stucco decorations from the Islamic period to the fourteenth century?
• Which compositions can be considered as the significant features of plant ornaments in a certain period?

Conclusion: The data was collected based upon written sources and field research (photography, linear print of the images) and analyzed through comparative-historical method. The results of this study suggest that the compositions existing in the samples can be classified into 9 groups some of which have been repeated in all historical periods, like the two and three-arabesque compositions in the margins and delicate joint/ stems with snail-shaped arches. But some of these compositions, including multi-layered plant compositions, delicate plant stems in the backgrounds, snail-shaped arches, etc., were evolved in some centuries, i.e. 13th and 14th centuries, or used more frequently. 

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The holy shrine of Razavi is among the most magnificent monuments with a treasure trove of calligraphy. Including these works, inscriptions and motifs of the stone floor of the entrance to the two domes of Hatam Khani and the Tohidkhaneh, which is visually effective in terms of quality. The purpose of this research is to identify and adapt the structure of the visual structure and the theme of inscriptions and Carved decorations in the plinth stones of the two porches. So, what is the visual and visual structure of the inscriptions on the walls of the hutmakhani and the Tohidkhaneh? And what is the content? Research methodology is descriptive-analytical and comparative and data collection, library and field photography. The findings show that the inscriptions are based on Qur'anic concepts and prayers with the Sols line, literary pieces on the line of Nastaliq, and with the themes of friendship and charity with Ahl al-Bayt and the status of God's forgiveness. The inscriptions are the Sols, Nastaliq and Naskh edition, which have a dynamic front by their circular shape and form. The use of these lines in the Sols and Nastaliq letter inscriptions relates to the calligraphy basics, which is coordinated with the visual capabilities of these two types of lines for easy visualization and readings. The inscriptions of the two porches were observed as scrolls, belts and textures, and the visual structure of the inscriptions was in geometric, ellipsoidal, circular, and square shapes, often with horizontal and vertical combinations, repeated with a visually repeating, intermittent, and Repeated with symmetry, intermittent and contradictory.arabesque and  Khatai designs, as well as triangular next to the inscriptions, have been used to decorate and emphasize the text

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