A Comparative Study of the Decoration Innovation of the Two Mosque-schools of Sardar Qazvin and Sepahsalar in Tehran

The buildings’ decoration and arrangement are influential factors in the splendor and beauty of Qajar period architecture. We witness innovations and developments in art and architecture during this period. The architecture of mosques and schools in this changing era has noteworthy innovations that have been less discussed. Sepahsalar (Motahari) Mosque-School and Sardar Qazvin Mosque-School are among the prominent buildings of this period in terms of decorations, especially tile motifs, so investigating the decorations and the differences between the motifs used in these two buildings is one of the main goals of this research. Furthermore, in this regard, the following questions are raised: 1- What are the characteristics of the decorations of the two mosques of Sardar Qazvin and Sepehsalar in Tehran? 2- What was the influence of the decorations of these two mosques-madrasa Sardar and Sepahsalar, from the west? The method of the present research is analytical-descriptive. In the first step, through library studies, the background related to the decorations of the Qajar period was studied, in the second step, through field observations, the decorations in case samples were examined, and in the last step, by combining library and field studies, The innovation in the motifs of two Sepahsalar and Sardar mosque-Schools has been evaluated and analyzed. The research findings show that Western art and culture influenced both buildings’ decorations. In the decorations of Sepehsalar Mosque-School, some motifs are directly and without changes adapted from Western art; However, the decorations of Sardar Qazvin Mosque-School were formed simultaneously under the influence of Iranian architecture, Bastar culture, and western elements.