Haft-rang

The Haft-rang technique for tiles only started to be used widely in the 17th century, although many examples are already known from the Timurid era, as in Gawhar Shad Madrasa (1418-1434) in Herat. Analysis of haft-rang tiles in Herat suggest the following technique: a white monochrome glaze is first applied on the tiles, followed by a variety of high-fire monochrome glazes separated by a black line made from a manganese-based mixture rich in iron, the whole combination being then encassed in a glass matrix.{{cite journal |last1=Aube |first1=Sandra |last2=Lorain |first2=Thomas |last3=Bendezu-Sarmiento |first3=Julio |title=The Complex of Gawhar Shad in Herat: New Findings about its Architecture and Ceramic Tile Decorations |journal=Iran |date=2 January 2020 |volume=58 |issue=1 |doi=10.1080/05786967.2019.1571769 |url=https://shs.hal.science/halshs-02174899/file/05786967.2019.1571769.pdf |quote=The base of the dome (Figure 16) is adorned in a frieze of colored-glaze “cloisonné” tiles: the wall coverings are first coated in a white monochrome glaze, then in different high-fire monochrome glazes, separated by a black line made from a manganese-based mixture rich in iron, in a glass matrix.}}

Timurid Haft-rang "cloisonné" tiles can be seen in the Aq Saray Palace (1379–1396), the Bibi-Khanym Mosque (1398–1405), the Ulugh Beg Madrasa (Samarkand) and Ulugbek Madrasah (Bukhara) (1417–1420), the Ghiyathiyya Madrasa, the Zaynal-Din mausoleum (1444–1445), the Sheikh Ahmad-e Jami Mausoleum (1440–1441) or the Gawhar Shad Madrasa in Herat (1417-1438).

Haft-rang differs from Mo'araq (مُعَرَق, mosaic tiling) which is another decorative technique, using mosaic tilework, consisting in using small shards of glazed colored tile, chipped and assembled precisely together in order to form a given design. This techniques allows for long-lasting designs with vibrant colours, and is the oldest mosaic technique used in the Middle East. In case of the specific use of ceramics, the term kǎši-ye mo'araq can be used.{{cite book |title=Journal asiatique |date=1988 |publisher=Société asiatique. |page=393 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JEg_AQAAIAAJ |language=fr}}

Haft-rang also sometimes refers to pottery glazed painting techniques in general, but in this case the designation of "Mina'i" ("enamelled" ware) is more often used.

File:Colored-glaze “cloisonné” tile found in the area of M5 (south-eastern minaret of the Gawhar Shad madrasa), Musalla complex. Herat National Museum.jpg|Colored-glaze “cloisonné” tile (haft-rang with black lines). Gawhar Shad Madrasa, 1418-1434.{{cite journal |last1=Aube |first1=Sandra |last2=Lorain |first2=Thomas |last3=Bendezu-Sarmiento |first3=Julio |title=The Complex of Gawhar Shad in Herat: New Findings about its Architecture and Ceramic Tile Decorations |journal=Iran |date=2 January 2020 |volume=58 |issue=1 |page=Figure 31 |doi=10.1080/05786967.2019.1571769 |url=https://shs.hal.science/halshs-02174899/file/05786967.2019.1571769.pdf |quote=In addition to these banna’i bricks, the dome is decorated with colored-glaze “cloisonné” tiles (better known as “cuerda seca”),62 as well as with cut-tile mosaics (note 62: The technique is better known as “black line”, “cuerda seca” or even “haft rang” type.}}

File:Individual haft-rang tile. Shah Mosque (Isfahan) 1611-1629.jpg|An individual haft-rang tile. Shah Mosque (Isfahan) 1611-1629

File:Shah mosque-4.jpg|Complete haft-rang panels, made of hundreds of square tiles. Shah Mosque (Isfahan)

File:"Shah(Imam)" mosque.jpg|Complete haft-rang decoration. Shah Mosque (Isfahan)

File:Picnic in a garden, single tile. V&A 139 1 to 4-1891 .jpg|Tile from Isfahan in Iran, 17th century

• Cuerda seca
• Persian art

• [https://persianarcharchives.org/2022/02/04/persian-tile-arts/ Persian Tile Art: Mosaic vs. 7-Color]

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Category:Iranian architectural elements

Category:Islamic architectural elements

Category:Ornaments (architecture)