Introducing and Reading the Inscriptions of the Safavid Metal Works,Case Study: Examples of Astan Quds Razavi Museum

Metallurgy is one of the most significant branches of the art of Islamic era which had a special place among all other eras. In addition, one of the suitable ways to study and do research on inscriptions is the metalwork’s art. Safavid era is one of the flourishing ones, in which artists under the influence of Shia religion, have illustrated verses and aphorisms in the form of inscriptions on the metal works. As a result, the authors of this article have tried to study the inscriptions of Safavid era with regard to metal plates by using both a descriptive method or library-based study as well as field studies or museum-based ones. Moreover, in order to increase the quality and accuracy of this study, they focused on some of the valuable plates available in Astan Ghods Razavi museum. The result of this study shows that the metalworkers of this historic period usually paid attention to religious themes in the inscription of metal plates, the themes which consist of the names of Imams, Salavat, and some verses from the Quran. Sometimes some beautiful poems can also be noticed on these plates which point to the usage of these plates.