What is the art of Tazhib?

Illuminated manuscript  is an Arabic word. This word is derived from the root of gold, which means gold and Zar, and it means to  Zarnegar, Zarandod, , Zarkari, and gild. The art of Tazhib  is the art of decorating and beautifying the pages of a book.

In this art, using beautiful and colorful patterns and designs, Islamic, Khatai (Khatai   may have been taken from the line or attributed to the city of Khotan) it arises, and its rhythmic rotation is called a clause.

If we want to have a brief definition of Tazhib, we should say that the design, painting, gilding, polishing and delicate engravings of various designs with “Islamic and Khatai” floral designs, geometric “types of knots” and sometimes the use of human and animal motifs to decorate different levels of gilding say.

The art of gilding and painting includes the use of all the principles of design of Iranian Islamic designs, which are also called Eslimi  designs. These designs are performed using colors such as watercolor, gouache, acrylic, gold and silver on cardboards with special materials. .

What is the historical background of the art of Tadhib?

The background of decoration and Tazhib in the art of book decoration in Iran dates back to the Sassanid period.

After the influence of Islam in Iran, the art of Tazhib was given to the Islamic and Arab governments and was called “Islamic art”.

Although the art once lagged behind in growth and prosperity, it regained its dynamism.

As in the Seljuk period, the religious people made the arrangement of the Qurans, expressions and tools, dishes, weavings and buildings as their profession, and a little later, in the Timurid period, this art reached its peak and the most beautiful gilded works were created.

Types of Tazhib:

The art of Tazhib  is divided into two different types:

shoulder Tazhib and moaragh Tazhib

Shoulder Tazhib  is done on cloud paper and its inventor was Aboutaleb Modarres, one of the artists of Qajar period,

Moaragh  Tazhib was done on thick and special papers and its invention dates back to the Safavid period.

During the Safavid period, painting, Tazhib  and calligraphy were used in the art of book decoration, and works were created that adorn the museums of Iran and the world.

The invasion of Western culture to Iran slowed the progress of this art, but with the efforts of committed artists and art lovers of this region, the flame of the art of Tazhib  is still burning.