A Comparative Study of the Making  of  Niello alloy in the Tabriz Armenian and the Ahwaz Mandaean metalwork

Zekavat, Sahar; Ghazizadeh, Khashayar

doi:10.22054/qjik.2020.48929.1180

A Comparative Study of the Making of Niello alloy in the Tabriz Armenian and the Ahwaz Mandaean metalwork

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

sahar zekavat ¹

Khashayar Ghazizadeh ²

¹ Masters of Islamic Art; field of study: Calligraphy and Paintings, Faculty of Art, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Faculty of Art, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/qjik.2020.48929.1180

Abstract

Niello is a decorative technique on the engraving surface of silver and gold metal and that usually use to create contrast and look good of engraving motifs on metal surface. Today, Tabriz Armenian and the Ahwaz Mandaean craftsmen inherit this art that has been forgotten. This art is known between the two nations under different titles. The importance of the stated issue has made the necessity of doing the present study. Therefore, identifying the Combinations and the structure of the Tabriz Armenian Niello alloy and the black enamel of Ahwaz Mandaean and identifying the technical Similarities and differences between the alloys and how two native tribe are made this, has been considered as the main purpose of study. In this way library, documentary, and field data are analyzed and evaluated with descriptive-analytical-comparative approach and the results of the study show that the combination of the Tabriz Armenian Niello alloy and the black enamel of Ahwaz Mandaean is done with little detail and Armenian Niello include of silver, copper, lead, and sulfur while the lead Combination and lead-free (No lead) Combination are common among the Ahwaz Mandaean craftsmen.

Keywords

Niello

Black enamel

Metalwork

Tabriz Armenian

Ahwaz Mandaean nation

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