The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

A Typological Study of Architectural Ornaments in the Columned Iwans of Qajar Houses in Tabriz

https://doi.org/10.22034/bagh.2025.516434.5795
Volume 22, Issue 151
January 2026
Pages 5-24
The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Yadollah Heidari Babakamal 1
Sahra Saki 2
Ahad Nejadebrahimi 3
Ali Nemati Babaylou 4

1 Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Materials Conservation, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran

2 Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Mazandaran, Iran

3 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran

4 Department of Conservation and Archaeometry, Faculty of Cultural Materials Conservation, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract
Problem statement: The Qajar houses of Tabriz are among the most valuable heritage structures, constituting a significant part of the city’s historical context. These historical houses possess distinctive architectural features that set them apart from similar structures in other regions of Iran. A key spatial element of the houses under study is the Iwan, yet no independent study has so far been conducted on their structures and ornamental features. Accordingly, the main issue of the present study is the typology of architectural ornaments in the iwans of Qajar houses in Tabriz.
Research objective: The primary aims of this study are to examine the architectural characteristics, classify the diverse types of Iwan ornaments, and identify the artistic and cultural trends influencing their formation.
Research method: The research method is descriptive–analytical, with data collected through both library-based and field studies. Initially, all iwans of the houses under investigation were photographed, drawn, and precisely described. Subsequently, all relevant historical documents concerning Qajar houses in Tabriz, along with field observations, were collected and analyzed to produce cohesive results.
Conclusion: The results indicate that the studied Iwans feature arched vaults, wooden columns with elaborately decorated plaster capitals, polygonal stone bases, and pediments adorned with diverse plasterwork. The main ornamental techniques used are brickwork on facades and plaster decorations, imbued with a Qajar spirit through influences from Western art, ancient Persian art, and local craftsmanship. The plaster capitals exhibit Corinthian techniques with vegetal motifs such as acanthus leaves, resembling Western examples, while the vegetal motifs on pediments display multi-lobed palmettes and vine leaves inspired by Sassanian art. The polygonal column bases show similarities to common types used in the Azerbaijani region, particularly in wooden columned mosques of the Qajar period. Additionally, the combination of plaster negīn (inlay) with mirror pieces and the creation of skewed square knots in medallion (toranj) designs embellish the ceilings and interior facades of the iwans. Twenty-three brickwork patterns, including cascading (khofte–rāsteh), floral (gol-andāz), dentil (dandān-mūshi), basket-weave (hasiri), and puz-guy types, stand out as remarkable decorative features of the houses studied.

Keywords

Iwan
Architectural ornaments
Qajar houses of Tabriz
Iwan pediment
Iwan column.
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