Kashan Shenasi

Kashan Shenasi

Thematic Analysis of the Script and Calligraphic Motifs on the Two Historical Wooden Doors of Imamzadeh Sultan-Ali in Mashhad Ardehal, Kashan

Document Type : Scientific-Promotional

Authors
Seyede Narges Hosseini 1
Alireza Sheikhi 2
1 M. A. graduate in Islamic Art, Department of Arts, Faculty of Arts, Soore University, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author).
2 Associate Professor, Department of Handicrafts, Faculty of Applied Arts, Iran University of Arts, Tehran, Iran
10.22052/kashan.2026.258281.1158
Abstract
The shrine of Imamzadeh Sultan Ali (peace be upon him), located in the village of Ardehal in Kashan County, holds a prominent position due to its historical and cultural background. This complex is significant because of the Qali-shuyan ritual, as well as the valuable works dating from different historical periods that it houses. The aim of this study is to analyze the motifs and inscriptions on the surviving wooden doors of this shrine and to examine the decorative elements employed on them. Accordingly, it seeks to answer the following questions: What inscriptional themes are found on the doors dating from the Timurid and Safavid periods at the shrine of Imamzadeh Sultan Ali (peace be upon him)? What types of decorations were executed on these doors? Using a descriptive-analytical and historical methodology, this study examines the wooden doors of the Ravaq-e Sofeh al-Safa, the entrance to the former school, and the Dar-e Cheraghkhaneh at the shrine of Imamzadeh Sultan Ali (peace be upon him) in Mashhad-e Ardehal. By consulting library sources and documentary materials, it also investigates the historical details associated with these doors. The findings indicated that the inscriptions on the entrance door of the former school contained religious themes, based on Qur’anic verses and hadiths, alongside historical information such as the name of the donor, the wood-carving master, and the year of construction. In contrast, the inscriptions on the door of the Ravaq-e Sofeh al-Safa were found to be predominantly historical, including the names of artists and donors, the reigning monarch, and titles commonly used during the Safavid period. The decorations on the entrance door of the former school, consistent with the artistic styles prevalent during the Timurid period, featured geometric designs combined with calligraphy. The door of the Ravaq-e Sofeh al-Safa bore geometric and vegetal motifs and reflected aspects of the Safavid art and concepts associated with Shiism. The Dar-e Cheraghkhaneh was not found at the Imamzadeh, and its inscriptions were merely examined on the basis of the surviving documents.
Keywords
wood-carved door
Kashan woodcarving
Timurid woodcarving
Safavid woodcarving
Imamzadeh Sultan Ali (peace be upon him)
Mashhad-e Ardehal
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Kashan Shenasi
Volume 18, Issue 1 - Serial Number 34
34
August 2025
Pages 131-158