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Eslami Aliabadi M, Khosravi Bizhaem F. (2025). Typology of the Forms and Motifs of Iranian Metal Pencases from the Beginning of the 4th to the Late 7th Century AH. JIC. 9(2), 41-70. doi:10.61882/jic.9.2.401
URL: http://jih-tabriziau.ir/article-1-401-en.html

The development of book arts during the Islamic period was accompanied by the evolution of its tools, including pencases. These objects were crafted from stone, wood, and predominantly metal. Despite their importance, metal pen cases remain relatively understudied, warranting focused scholarly attention. This study aims to examine the forms and decorative motifs of Iranian metal pencases from the 4th to the end of the 7th century AH. The research addresses two main questions: How are these pencases classified based on form? And what motifs do they display? Employing descriptive and analytical methods, the study draws on written sources and museum collections, analyzing overall shape, framing, and composition. Findings indicate that, according to cross-sectional shape, pencases fall into two primary categories: rectangular (including rectangular and medallion-shaped forms) and triangular (elongated trapezoid and pentagon). Among these, the medallion-shaped type was most commonly used. Motifs are grouped into six categories: plant, calligraphic, human, geometric, animal, and astronomical. plant motifs, particularly arabesque and composite designs, along with calligraphic scripts in Thuluth and Kufic, were the most prevalent. Human motifs, depicting hunting, warfare, music, and dance, appeared less frequently, followed by animal motifs in both realistic and mythical forms. Geometric designs were mainly applied in borders, while astronomical motifs were exceptionally rare. This study sheds light on the forms and ornamentation of Iranian metal pen cases, contributing to a deeper understanding of an understudied aspect of Islamic book arts.