کاشیکاری ایران: خط معقلی الفارسية 1447

The art of tile making and tilework is among the most valuable decorative elements associated with architecture. The creativity, taste, and craftsmanship of Iranian tile makers have elevated this art to such a high level that it has long inspired admiration. Those familiar with Iranian Islamic architecture should also be acquainted with the artistic values of tilework—its designs and motifs, colors and glazes, firing techniques, and, more broadly, the principles, rules, and intricacies of this craft.
This article examines tiles from the Safavid period to the Qajar era, and continues through to the present day, introducing the defining characteristics of tilework in these periods as well as key terminology, so that readers may become familiar with the historical transformations of Iranian tile making.

What is Mo‘aqqali tilework?
Mo‘aqqali tilework is a type of tiling created by producing tiles in very small dimensions and arranging these small pieces side by side to form the overall design.

Combining tile with brick in façades helps prevent the expansion and contraction of tiles. This method minimizes the risk of the glaze chipping or flaking. The motifs commonly used in mo‘aqqali tilework include straight lines along vertical and horizontal axes, sometimes diagonal lines at a 45-degree angle, and checkerboard patterns.