The Use of Material in Tile making in the Seventh Century AH with Reference to ʿArāyes-ol-Javāher va Nafāyes-ol-Atāyeb

ʿArāyes-ol-Javāher va Nafāyes-ol-Atāyeb is a text on stones and perfumes written by Abol-Qāsem ʿAbdollāh Kāshāni in the seventh century AH. The last chapter of the book is dealt with tile making techniques and materials. Considering the author’s belonging to a tile maker family named Abu-Taher as well as his familiarity with tile making, the said chapter includes much detailed and unique information on these techniques. Tile making demanded for precision and a good knowledge of knowing, preparing, and synthesising the materials. The main substance to make tiles consisted of various stones brought from different parts of Iran such as Kāshān, Nāyin, and Khorasan and sometimes from foreign countries or the Roman Empire. The craftsmen ground and powdered the provided stones and certain metals like lead, tin, iron, and copper. Then mixed them based on a required proportion and heated the mixture in a special furnace for a certain time in order to make a new substance. Afterwards the new substance was pounded and powdered again. Ceruse used by women and painters as well as a medicine for eye treatment were among the products of the very recent step. In the last step the new substances were mixed based on an appropriate portion depended on the kind and usage of supposed tile or dish and its desired colour.