Recognition of Mirror Work Patterns in Qajar Monuments at Shiraz

The art of Mirror work which is prevalent in Iran is completely an Islamic art and includes geometrical forms that allocated to Islamic countries. Since mirror work of Iran can be interpreted as a religious and traditional art, understanding the necessity of protecting, supporting and expanding this beautiful and incredible art, along with other handmade and decorative arts is indispensable. By virtue of library sources and field studies, in descriptive-analytical method and after a brief indication of the background of the origin of mirror work and stating its role in architecture of Qajar period, various types of Mirror work are investigated in three groups of mansions in this era in Shiraz, which include: dwelling houses, pilgrimage places and garden pavilions. Results indicate that different Mirror work types are used in these three building types. This art is performed on plaster on the wall & on the patterns of vases in dwelling houses, in pilgrimage places it covers the whole surface of wall & roof & the edge of cornice &also uses as the patterns of fret & arabesque, and also used as the cover of whole surface of wall & parts of roof & on plaster in garden pavilions.