Mo'araq

Mo'araq, Aq Qoyunlu tilework at the South iwan of the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, circa 1475-76

Mo'araq (مُعَرَق, "inlay") is a mosaic tilework technique 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 colors, 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.

Some early forms of inlaid tilework appeared during the Ilkhanid period (13th–14th century). The technique matured during 15th century, and was practiced by the Timurids in Samarkand and Herat, as well as the Turkmen polities of the Qara Qoyunlu and Aq Qoyunlu in Western and Central Iran. Mo'araq continued to be in use during Safavid period (16th–17th century), especially in Isfahan under Shah Abbas I.

The term Mo'araq can also be used for marquetry, in which small pieces of woods of various nature and shade can be used to achieve a design.

Mo'araq is technically very different from Haft-rang (7-color) tiles, which started to be used widely in the 17th century. The Haft-Rang technique is simpler and faster, but only uses large square tiles on which colors are painted side-by-side or delineated with black painting, and the whole tile is then fired, which does not permit an optimum firing process for each of the colors. Hence the colors of Haft-Rang are weaker, less intense, less clearly delineated, and the glazes not as strong.

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  A 15th century Tumurid Mo'araq, Ulugh Beg Madrasa, Samarkand, 1417-1421
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  Mo'araq, Qara Qoyunlu tilework at Darb-e Imam, 1453
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  Detail of mo'araq inlay technique. Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, circa 1475-76
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  Mo'araq, Qara Qoyunlu tilework at the Blue Mosque, Tabriz, 1465

See also

• Persian art

External links

• Persian Tile Art: Mosaic vs. 7-Color