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A Study of the Motifs of Golabeh Potteries Painted on a Pea-Colored Background: Case Example of Tehran Bonyad Museum

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Najmeh Nori 1
Ahmad Salehi Kakhoki 2
1 Master's student, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Conservation and Restoration, Isfahan Art University, Isfahan, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Conservation and Restoration, Isfahan Art University, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
In the first centuries of Islam, flower-patterned pottery was considered the most common pottery in the eastern lands of Iran. This type of pottery is known as "Samani pottery" since it was mostly made during the Samanid period and within the boundaries of this kingdom. There are many examples of this type of pottery in museums and collections around the world, some of which have a detailed identification and some of which have not been studied yet. The current research aims to preserve and identify 25 painted Golabeh pottery vessels on a pea background located in the treasury of the Tehran Bonyad Museum in order to examine its visual characteristics. Also, since a general monograph of the pottery collection of the Tehran Bonyad Museum has not been published so far, it seems compulsory to document the mentioned pottery for the purpose of relative dating, determination of possible manufacturing centers, and clarification of identification details. This research has been done by descriptive-comparative method and by collecting information via field and library method. The Golabeh pottery studied in this research are decorated with various decorative patterns including: geometric, plant, animal, human motifs and illegible inscriptions. The production of these pottery was almost certainly during the 3rd and 4th centuries Hegira and in the course of the Samanid rule. Also, it seems that North-Eastern Iran (the city of Neishabur) was the possible center of making the stated potteries.
Research aims:

Documenting the Golabeh pottery painted on a pea-background located in the treasury of the Tehran Bonyad Museum for the purpose of relative dating, determination of possible manufacturing centers and explanation of detailed identification.
Identifying the motifs executed on the Golabeh pottery painted on the pea-background located in the treasury of the Tehran Bonyad Museum.

Research questions:

Where are the possible centers for the production of Golabeh pottery painted on a pea-background located in the treasury of the Tehran Bonyad Museum and what historical period are they related to?
What types of motifs are applied Golabeh pottery painted on a pea-background?
Keywords
Golabeh painted pottery
Tehran Bonyad Museum
Neishabur
Samanid era
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Sofalineh
Volume 1, Issue 2
September 2025
Pages 226-253