EXAMINING THE ORIGIN OF FLOWERPOT MOTIFS IN THE BUILDINGS OF QAJAR ERA

Abstract. In Qajar period, the era of the formation of urban fabric along with a rooted tradition close to the contemporary architectural era of Iran, specific motifs and decorative patterns were formed on the buildings, including flowerpots with scattered flowers that developed on all constructions of this era (the mosques, schools, palaces, and mansions), which were applied with assorted materials especially seven-color tiles.

The present study was a descriptive-analytic research conducted referring to reliable library resources, and visual and electronic documents, and, it was intended to answer the following question: What is the origin of scattered flowers with spiral stalks issuing from realistic and abstract flowerpots?

Findings show that the origin of scattered flowers with symbolic meanings of life, growth and immortality is the earthenware found in Sialk, Kashan, which were common in ancient era and after Islam, they became widespread with the same content and theme as arabesque forms. Then, they were recreated in Qajar Era and by being originated from realistic and sometimes abstract flowerpots, they were depicted on the buildings with symmetric spiral arabesque forms.