The Porosity of Mongol Borders: Contributions of the Ilkhanids, Golden Horde and Chaghtayids to the Development of Tilework.

Before the arrival of the Mongols in Central Asia and Iran the use of tiles for architectural decoration was in its infancy. Two colours, light-blue and dark-blue, were used sparingly for architectural transitions or highlights.

By the middle of the fourteenth century dramatic changes can be seen with the introduction and development of tilework techniques such as sgraffito, tile mosaic, lajvardina, mina’i, banna’i, and carved and glazed terracotta. Their use increased correspondingly, now covering a much greater proportion of the building, including on occasion whole facades. The combinations of these technique also resulted in a much greater range of colour effects. Place marks, not seen earlier, were also introduced to help with the more complicated patterns that craftsmen were able to design – although these were confined to Khwarizm.

Previously the development of tilework under these dynasties has mostly been studied in isolation. This paper will attempt to synthesize our knowledge of these three dynasties to calculate the relative extent of cross-fertilization in their technical and artistic developments and to evaluate the impact their innovations had subsequently. Which tilework techniques managed to cross these borders and which remained unique? What transformations of pre-existing techniques took place – and why? One masterpiece of Islamic tilework, the Turabek Khanum mausoleum at Kuhna Urgench, will be examined in detail for the light it sheds on these topics – and a redating consequently proposed.