Adaptation of design and decoration in cold weapons of Safavid Iran and Ottoman Türkiye

Academic Dissertation in Master Degree in Handicrafts

Traditional Arts Research Orientation

Abstract:

The making of metal objects has always been the focus of past civilizations, including the manufacture and production of weapons. In many cases, the makers of weapons reflected the tastes, opinions and worldview of their people and culture in the form of various decorations on these war tools. In the 10th century of Hijri, two empires, Safavid and Ottoman, always attacked each other's borders and colonies due to religious and ideological differences. Of course, in many cases, they have also maintained their commercial and cultural relations. The sum of these relationships could have various effects on the decorations of metal objects and especially weapons. Among the indicators influencing these decorations are war trophies, political gifts, voluntary or forced migration of artists, and commercial relations, the investigation of which can help us achieve a better understanding of the cultural and artistic relations of the two countries. This research has been done in a descriptive and comparative way and by analyzing the decorations of the selected weapons. Finally, after examining the samples, it was found that despite the many similarities in the decorations used on these weapons, such as the use of Quranic verses, due to the background and strength of Iranian artists in the field of creating patterns and making metal objects, including weapons, the Ottomans were more influential. Among these influences, we can mention the use of Persian inscriptions, the use of Iranian Islamic and Khatay motifs, and the reflection of the name of Ali (pbuh) on some Ottoman weapons. Imprinting on all kinds of man-made objects has always been considered from the past until now in order to convey a message and create visual beauty. Making metal objects can be considered one of the most important of these handicrafts. Due to their unique characteristics such as long durability and invulnerability, metals have always been chosen as a suitable platform for creating designs and designs. Among them are metal objects, weapons and cold war weapons that have carried these characteristics since the distant past.

In the distant past, two powerful governments, Safavid and Ottoman, for various reasons such as shared cultural commonalities, the same religion, different religions, having a long geographical border, the desire for power and the expansion of the empire, various connections. They had peace and war. As a result, having a powerful army and an elite fighting force could be considered an important factor.

According to this introduction, it can be seen that the manufacture of weapons and its decoration were considered in this period. After the preliminary and study studies of the images of these weapons, it was found that the exploration and analysis of the patterns of the war tools of these two periods can help us in better understanding their cultural and artistic relations and the degree of influence and effectiveness of each one. After consulting with Dr. Gholam Ali Hatem and Dr. Mehran Hoshiar, the title of adaptation of design and decoration in cold weapons of Safavid Iran and Ottoman Turkey was considered for this dissertation.

Given the passage of a long time since that era and the dispersion of these weapons in museums and private collections, it was a difficult task to prepare reliable and quality images that could be researched, which was finally done by referring to authentic Latin and Persian specialized books, as well as referring to the Turkish Embassy and the cultural department. It, identification works and pictures were prepared.

Finally, in order to reach a favorable and acceptable result, this thesis was written in six chapters. After the first chapter which is called "research generalities", the second chapter named "Historical, cultural and artistic fields of the Safavid and Ottoman eras" refers to topics such as the political history of these governments, their rulers, the history of political relations and finally the history of their cultural and artistic relations. In the second chapter titled "History of Metals and Weapons" the history of metal and weapons is discussed. In this chapter, the evolution of the use of metals in historical periods and various styles and common techniques are mentioned, and finally, the history of weapons as a subcategory of metalworking art. The fourth chapter is called "Introduction and description of cold weapons of the Safavid and Ottoman eras". This chapter includes the description of the sample society and the types of weapons selected.

In the fifth chapter entitled "Comparative analysis of the design and ornamentation of the cold weapons of the Safavid and Ottoman eras and the introduction of the weapon makers", the analysis of motifs, linear inscriptions and the execution method of these motifs is discussed, and in the final chapter, the results of the analysis are stated. Statement of the problem:

Ever since mankind discovered the method of using and extracting metals, it has been used in a variety of ways, which can always be seen in the corners of human life, until now. Since fighting and defending the land and creed have been sacred in many periods and governments, the making of war tools has also been of special importance, and the reflection of this importance can be seen from the decorations that exist on all kinds of tools.

Iran during the Safavid era underwent fundamental changes in many fields for various reasons, and the powerful Safavid government exalted many of the foundations used in the previous arts and used them to advance its goals and express its worldview. At the same time as this government, in Iran's neighborhood, the Ottoman Turks had chosen the religion of Islam with the Sunni religion. The Ottoman people, with a rich historical background, were neighbors with the great culture of Iran on the one hand, and Byzantine and Western art on the other.

The existing relations between the Safavid rulers in Iran and the Ottoman Turks have taken certain forms of peace and war during the historical period, and since usually the reflection of such political relations can be effective in many economic, social and artistic aspects of a country. There is no doubt that this is the case for these two countries as well, but what exists in between is the difference in the religions ruling these societies, which can express itself in the form of decorative elements.

According to these points, in this research, we try to find out the nature of these differences by matching and analyzing the decorative elements on the surfaces of cold war weapons, and the authenticity of each of these elements, the factors, and the degree of influence and effectiveness of these two neighboring cultures. using their creations.

1-2 research questions:

1- How was the influence of political relations on the artistic exchanges of the Safavid tribes of Iran and the Ottoman Turks through the examination of these motifs on weapons? 

2- How was the reflection of the common religion and different religion on the art of decorating the weapons of the Safavid tribes of Iran and the Ottoman Turks?

3- Did the cultural spoils obtained in the wars between the Safavid tribes of Iran and the Ottoman Turks have a direct effect on the art of these tribes? The Ottoman Empire largely determined the quality of cultural exchanges between the two countries, and we can come to this conclusion by examining the culture and art of the two countries.

2 _ It seems that the existence of different religions between the Safavid tribes of Iran and the Ottoman Turks caused differences in the use of decorations.

1-4 research objectives:

The main objective: Analytical investigation of the designs and decorations used on the weapons of the Safavid tribes of Iran and the Ottoman Turks.

Subsidiary objective: Introducing the key artists and artisans who made these weapons.

1-5 Research background:

Mithami Zohreh, "Iranian war weapons and welding", Book of the Month of Art, No. 140, Tehran, Ardibehesht 82.

" This article deals with the analysis of the book "Iranian Weapons and Welding" by Dr. Manouchehr Mushtaq Khorasani and includes the introduction of the chapters of the book along with an interview of the author. "

This article is more general about the book of weapons and has no direct relation with our research.

Marslund Hassan, "Iranian and Ottoman Wars", Mahnameh Sharq, Vol. 6.

"This article is a general overview of the wars between Iran and the Ottomans and briefly contains information about the contemporaneous kings of both countries."

This article serves as a source for Preparedness can be used from the events that happened between the kings ruling the two countries and their contemporaries.