A comparative study of women's clothing portrayed in Shahnameh Baysunghur and Shahtahmasebi

Abstract

The clothing of women depicted by artists under Timurid and Safavid dynasties is well represented in the surviving illustrations of Shahnameh Baisonghor and Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp. A descriptive-analytical survey of the related historical documents and a comparison of the illustrations of these two Shahnameh books will contribute to answering the following questions: from which aspects do the representations of the clothing of women in the two books conform to each other? What was the function of ornament in the women's clothing under Timurid and Safavid dynasties? The clothing of women over these two periods can be classified into three main parts, namely, head-wear, body-wear, and leg-wear. In general, representations of women's clothing in the two books are based on three features, i.e. ornamentation, the social status of women, and necessity of hijab. These features were realized in each book according to the governing norms as well as the individual taste of the illustrators. What is common between the two periods is the high regard in illustrations for women of all social strata in order to foreground their importance in the society.

Keywords

• clothing
• safavid
• shahnameh
• timurid
• women