Morphology of Iranian glass chandeliers during the third to sixth centuries AH

Abstract

Problem definition:Glassblowing is one of the valuable arts in Iran which dates back to thousands of years ago. This art has entered a new stage during the Islamic era with a rich historical and artistic background, so that the time frame of third-sixth centuries AH is considered as one of the most important glassblowing ages of the Islamic era in Iran. The present study aims to investigate the morphology of glass chandeliers belonging to the Islamic period of Iran. It has been attempted to answer the questions that what are the morphological features of Iranian glass chandeliers and what were the fixed and variable elements of these artworks during the time frame of third-sixth centuries AH? Objective: Thepurpose of this article is to identify the general structure of Iranian glass chandeliers, their components as well as fixed and variable constituent elements. Research method: This research has been conducted on a descriptive-analytical basis and the information were collected through the library resources. Results: Glass chandeliers are composed of fixed elements of body, neck, base and pendant ring. The body shape of the mentioned chandeliers is elliptical-spherical in the form of an elongated vase, and their necks are long and short with cylindrical and horn-shaped forms. The variety of Iranian glass chandeliers is due to the way the pendant is applied and its location in the opening or middle of their bodies, as well as the decorations of these artworks and the addition of glass paste in the opening of these objects.

Keywords

• morphology
• iranian glassblowing
• glass chandelier
• form and decorations