Zarrīn Fām; Biannual journal of Museum Studies

Zarrīn Fām; Biannual journal of Museum Studies

Analysis of Form Structures and Motifs in Post-Islamic Iranian Gold Filigree and Their Creative Reinterpretation in Contemporary Jewelry Design and Fabrication

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Faculty of Arts and Architecture ,University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
10.30481/museum.2026.585650.1081
Abstract
Gold filigree jewelry, as one of the most distinctive expressions of traditional Iranian arts, embodies a combination of technical skill, aesthetic sensibility, and profound cultural meanings. This art, with a history spanning several centuries in cities such as Zanjan and Isfahan, employs visual elements including line, rhythm, symmetry, and arabesque and vegetal motifs to create delicate and harmonious works. The present study aims to analyze form and motifs in post-Islamic Iranian gold filigree jewelry and to apply the findings in the design and fabrication of a contemporary jewelry piece. The research was conducted using a descriptive-analytical method with a qualitative approach. Data were collected through field observation, examination of museum specimens, and library resources. In the first stage, the formal structures and decorative motifs of selected filigree pieces were analyzed based on Gestalt theory. The extracted criteria were then applied in the process of designing a new jewelry collection, which was subsequently fabricated. The findings indicate that in post-Islamic filigree jewelry, form emerges from the interaction of line and space, and motifs, beyond their decorative value, carry cultural identity and symbolic meanings. Revisiting these characteristics in contemporary design can lead to creations that maintain a connection to tradition while introducing innovation. The outcome of this study is a jewelry collection that reinterprets filigree aesthetics in a language aligned with contemporary needs.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 February 2026

  • Receive Date 09 December 2025
  • Revise Date 11 February 2026
  • Accept Date 14 February 2026
  • Publish Date 26 February 2026